Prevent Kitchen Fires!

From the article, Prevent Kitchen Fires! found on Prevent kitchen fires at King & Queen ApartmentsWilliamsburg Fire Department’s Website

Prevent Kitchen Fires at King & Queen Apartments!

Fire Prevention Week ~ October 6th – 12th, 2013

It’s time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 6-12 the Williamsburg Fire Department is joining forces with the non-profit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind 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 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.

Here are some safety tips to prevent cooking related fires and injuries:

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, baking or boiling food.  If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove or oven.
  • 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 feet 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.

If you have a cooking fire… 

  • Just get out!  Close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
  • Call 9-1-1 after you leave.
  • Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stove-top. Leave the pan covered until completely cooled.
  • NOTE: Each apartment at King & Queen Apartments is equipped with a StoveTop FireStop fire suppressant canisters underneath the range hood.  They are designed to automatically discharge, putting out the flames, when flames or heat from a stove-top fire reaches high enough to trigger the canisters.  If the StoveTop FireStop canisters discharge, be sure to still dial 9-1-1 and contact Management.

For an oven fire – turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

For more information on Fire Prevention Week and Cooking Safety, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

In order to schedule a station tour or a fire safety presentation with the Williamsburg Fire Department, please call (757) 220-6220 or email us at fire@williamsburgva.gov.