Grand Forks AFB Fire Department reminds base residents to 'Prevent Kitchen Fires’ Published Oct. 2, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 2013 Fire Prevention Week, will take place from October 6-12 and the Grand Forks Air Force Base Fire Department is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association to remind local residents to 'Prevent Kitchen Fires.' During this year's fire safety campaign, fire departments will be spreading the word about the dangers of kitchen fires--most of which result from unattended cooking--and teaching local residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place. According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen--more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries. "Unattended cooking is one of the most common causes for these fires, Air Force-wide," said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Thompson, Grand Forks AFB assistant chief of fire prevention. "Even if only for a couple minutes, leaving cooking unattended causes unnecessary risk for occupants, not only in their home, but also those living in the adjoined homes." Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates will be emphasizing: · Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food. · If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. · When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you. · If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three away from the stove. · When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves. · Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop. · Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops. "Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record and is actively supported by fire departments across the country," said Thompson. "So it's important for the base to show its support to this long running initiative, and do our part to prevent kitchen fires and keep practicing good fire safety all year-round." (New release from the National Fire Prevention Association was used for creation of this article.)