PRESS RELEASE

City of Woodland Fire Department
 1000 Lincoln Ave.
 Woodland, CA 95695
 Phone: 530-661-5860
 Fax: 530-662-5781

Woodland, CA – The Woodland Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years —to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” The campaign works to educate everyone about  simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.  

According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.  Additionally, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are cooking at home and Woodland firefighters have seen a notable rise kitchen fires in the city.

“Kitchen fires are absolutely preventable,” states Emily Walling, Fire Marshal for the Woodland Fire Department. “Some key prevention methods to keep families safe in their homes, include: staying in the kitchen, using a timer, and avoiding distractions such as electronics or TV.”

 The Woodland Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2020 Fire Prevention Week theme.

“The most important step you should take before making a meal is to “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” continues Walling “A cooking fire can grow quickly, and unfortunately, we have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Woodland Fire Department wants to share safety tips to keep you from having a cooking fire:

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• You have to be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Ensure that all of your smoke alarms are working in your home.

The Woodland Fire Department will be sharing a series of safety tips throughout the month in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”, be sure to follow us on Facebook @woodlandfd.  For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking fire prevention, visit www.fpw.org.

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