National Fire Prevention Week Tip of the Day: Cooking Safety

National Fire Prevention Week is October 8th – 14th

Tip of the Day: Cooking Safety

Cooking is often a relaxing and fun task that brings family and friends together, and it provides a great way to showcase your creativity and love of good food. But cooking is also the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Being mindful while you cook, however, can go a long way to helping prevent these fires. 

Cooking fires by the numbers, based on 2010-2014 annual averages:

• Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries, causing 46% of home fires that resulted in 19% of the home fire deaths and 44% of the injuries.**
• Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
• Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but clothing ignitions led to 18% of the home cooking equipment fire deaths.
• Ranges or cooktops accounted for the majority (62%) of home cooking fire incidents.
• Unattended equipment was a factor in one-third (33%) of reported home cooking fires and half (49%) of the associated deaths.
• Frying dominates the cooking fire problem.
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

Announcing Tolland Fire Department’s Annual Open House

On Saturday, October 21st, 2017 Tolland Fire Department will host its Annual Community Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Fire Training Center, 191 Merrow Road (across from Meeting House Commons). 

The Open House will feature displays of the department’s firefighting, rescue and emergency medical equipment.  TFD volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service personnel will be available to explain how various specialized items of equipment, including the Jaws of Life, are used to protect our town.  Many of the department’s trucks and an ambulance will be open to the public, making the event particularly appealing for young children. 

This event offers a convenient opportunity for adult town residents who are interested in volunteering as a firefighter or EMT with the Tolland Fire Department, Inc., to talk with current department members about training with the department and the sense of satisfaction that may be derived from providing a valuable service to their neighbors and the Tolland community.  

As part of its corporate commitment to fire safety, Papa Gino’s Pizza of Vernon will again provide free pizza for those who visit the Open House, starting at noon.  Other light refreshments will be provided throughout the Open House. There will also be a drawing for door prizes at the conclusion of the event. 

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