Fire Chief offers safe burning, cooking tips

Tim Brody - Editor

Fire Prevention Week is running this week from Oct. 4 to 10.
“This year's Fire Prevention Week (FPW) theme, "Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!"TM is aimed at educating everyone about the simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them, safe in the kitchen,” the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General shared on its website, adding that “Unattended cooking is the number #1 cause of fires in Ontario.”
During the week, Sioux Lookout Fire Chief Bob Popovic is hoping to speak with area students about fire safety online.
Popovic shared the following kitchen safety tips, “So making sure you’re staying with what you are cooking, making sure you understand how to put out a grease fire, don’t throw water on it – cover it up.”
Additional steps to stay safe in your kitchen can be found at: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58659/ontario-fire-marshal-promotes-fire-safety-in-the-kitchen.
He added that people should be thinking about changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors soon, as he said it should be done every six months.
People should also check and see if their smoke alarms need to be replaced he said, as they should be replaced every 10 years.
According to the Ministry of the Solicitor General, “It is the law for all Ontario homes to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.”
If people heat their home with wood, oil or propane, Popovic said they need to ensure they have carbon monoxide detectors.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General informs that, “CO alarm must be located adjacent to all sleeping areas of the home.”
Popovic said people should also have a plan to escape their home in the event of a fire and regularly practise it.
He also asked that residents ensure their house number can be clearly read, as he said in the event of an emergency, seconds can save lives.
Popovic said municipal number plates should be affixed to the building or on a post adjacent to the driveway.
As colder temperatures arrive, Popovic said people should get their home heating systems inspected to ensure they are in good working order.
For those burning wood, he said people should ensure their chimney is well cleaned, including the elbow.
He advised people to burn seasoned wood and cautioned people not to pile wood against their homes.