The Fort Wayne Fire Department (FWFD) is joining with the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana, the Northeast Indiana Burn Council and the St. Joseph Regional Burn Center to urge everyone to Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat. This is the theme for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 8-14, 2006. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the theme annually for this national campaign to raise public awareness of fire safety. The week marks the anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. These organizations will kick off their campaign with a news conference Monday, Oct. 9 at the Culinary Arts School at Fort Wayne Community School's Anthis Career Center, 1200 South Barr Street, Fort Wayne.
In promoting the cooking safety theme, Assistant Chief Christine Bowers, FWFD Fire Marshal, provides three important steps to help avoid cooking fires. "First, never leave cooking food unattended," she says. "Second, be sure to turn off the oven and stove burners when you are finished cooking. The third step is to use either the lid to a pan, baking soda or a fire extinguisher to put out a grease fire." She adds that water should not be used on a grease fire.
These four organizations will be involved in multiple activities to promote cooking safety and fire prevention.
The Fire Prevention Week Cooking Safety Messages are also being shared through radio and television Public Service Announcements as well as on City TV Comcast Channel 58.
Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard has proclaimed Oct. 8-14 as Fire Prevention Week in Fort Wayne and the proclamation will be presented at the Oct. 9 News Conference at Anthis.
The Fort Wayne Neighborhood Association Presidents received Fire Prevention Week Cooking Safety information they will share at their association meetings throughout October.
The WOWO Fire Drill will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 at St. John the Baptist School.
Additional cooking safety and fire prevention information is also available at http://www.fortwaynefiredepartment.org/, the website for the Fort Wayne Fire Department; www.northeastin.redcross.org, the website for American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana; www.neinbc.org, the website for the Northeast Indiana Burn Council; and www.stjoehospital.com, the website for the St. Joseph Regional Burn Center.
