This year's Fire Prevention Week theme "Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention" runs from October 8-14, 2023. The theme works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.
The City encourages residents to stay safe when cooking. A cooking fire can grow quickly, damage homes and cause injury to people by fires that could easily have been prevented. Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half - 49 per cent of all home fires.
The Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Have a "kid- and pet-free zone" of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
The Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services continue to work to improve home safety by providing free smoke alarms to the most vulnerable in the community. Residents can arrange for a free smoke alarm home visit by a Fire Prevention Officer, who will determine the best locations for a smoke alarm or test existing ones. If a resident requires a new smoke alarm, Fire staff will install and complete a home safety inspection as well. Qualifying residents can sign up online at portcoquitlam.ca/smokealarm.
Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services takes part in Fire Prevention Week each year by educating the community on the year's theme and conducting elementary school fire drills. For 30 years, Port Coquitlam Fire and Protective Services have been going to each elementary school to assist them with a fire drill and to teach students about that year's message.
As part of the program, Students in kindergarten to grade three can also enter into a draw for a chance to be Captain of the Day or Fire Chief for a Day at portcoquitlam.ca/fpwballot.
As well, students can enter for a chance to win prizes from the Office of the Fire Commissioner by submitting a home fire escape plan. To enter, students can visit gov.bc.ca/FirePreventionWeek.
For more fire safety and prevention tips, visit portcoquitlam.ca/fire or contact the Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services Department at [email protected] or 604.927.5466.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]