Indian River’s Fire Prevention Team Continues Community Canvas Efforts

On Wednesday, October 14th, the Fire Prevention Team continued to diligently coordinate the fire prevention awareness efforts throughout the fire district with a community canvas effort in the River Winds development off Oak Orchard Road. 

This effort included distribution and installation of free smoke detectors, distribution of fire prevention and safety pamphlets to every household in the development, distribution of children’s fire prevention packets and fire helmets, and a dialogue with encountered residents regarding fire safety in the household.

As we in the fire service continue to focus on fire prevention awareness week --- kitchen and cooking fire safety comes to mind when home cooking fires represent the leading cause of U.S. home fires.  It is identified by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) that nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment are associated with unattended cooking as the leading cause of these fires.

The Fire Prevention Team continues to emphasis the following key messages:

•  Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking unattended.

•  Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — at least three feet away from your stovetop.

•  Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stove or stovetop.