Each year, North Metro Fire Rescue District kicks off the month of October with special events centered around Fire Prevention Week in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association. This year, due to COVID-19, we are incorporating new ways to share important safety messaging through fun and socially distanced or virtual activities. 

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen™”. 

Why Cooking Safety Matters

• Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries.
• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen.
• Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries. Hot liquids from coffee and even microwaved soup can cause devastating injuries.

North Metro Fire is hosting a variety of events and online activities in coordination with Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10. Each event is free and open to all families.

Schedule of Events

We have an entire week of activities planned either virtually or in person with social distancing and safety precautions in place. Check out all the details on our family-friendly and educational events. 

• Fire Safety Scavenger Hunt Kickoff Event - October 4 (the scavenger hunt goes all week)
• Virtual and Outdoor Story Times - October 6 and 7
• Serve Up Safety Food Drive - October 10

Kitchen Safety Tips to Remember

Follow these tips to prevent fires in the kitchen:

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• You have to be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried. Download the "Kid-Free Zone Marker" to show your kids what three feet actually is around the stove.
• Don’t leave combustible materials close to a cooking surface while in use. 

Aside from kitchen safety, we also want to remind families to plan and practice their exit drills at home at least once a year. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Download an example exit plan to draw on. Visit each room and find two ways out. Additionally, check and ensure that all of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly and have not expired.

Hot, Not Hot and Sometimes Hot

This interactive video is a great way for children to practice identifying items that are hot, sometimes hot, and not hot. Children younger than 5 years old are at the highest risk for burn injuries. Burn injuries in young children most frequently occur from contact burns that result from touching a hot object, such as a stove top or an iron. Young children also experience a high number of burns from hot liquids (scalds), such as hot coffee, soup, or boiling water.