Half of house fires start in the kitchen
For the month of February, I would like to discuss “Kitchen Fire Prevention.”
Fire safety experts tell us that half of all house fires start in the kitchen. Some are electrical of course, but many are cooking related. Naturally, since stoves produce either flames or red hot burners, this makes sense. And yet many of these cooking-related kitchen fires, if not the mass majority of them, are caused either by carelessness, or violating some basic safety principles. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to prevent fires and be safer in your kitchen. They say cleanliness is next to godliness, and it’s also an important factor in reducing your risk of kitchen fires. Pots and pans should be kept clean; for fire safety. It’s especially important to give the outside a good scrubbing and the bottom too. It is important to keep the burner itself and the area around it clean. Pots and pans do not catch fire; what’s inside them does. Should you ever have a fire on the stovetop or in the oven and it involves grease or oil, don’t throw water on it. Use baking soda or a fire extinguisher. If it is safe to do so, put a lid on it. Water will only spread a grease fire.
The Bigfork Fire District has two (2) open trustee positions, for a three year term. Petitions can be picked up at the Bigfork Fire Station or at the Flathead County Election Department. Closing deadline is Friday, February 19, 2015, 5:00pm
Bigfork Fire Department responded to fifty-four (54) incidents for the month of January: Building fire (2), Cooking fire, confined to container (1), Chimney or flue fire (1), passenger vehicle fire (1), Emergency medical service incident (1), EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury (36), Vehicle accident with injuries (1), Motor vehicle accident with no injuries (5), Rescue or standby (2), Gas leak (natural gas or LPG) (1), Power line down (1), Dispatched and canceled en route (1), False alarm or false call (1).
Be safe!
—Wayne Loeffler, Bigfork Fire Department Chief