The Monroe Fire Department graciously accepted a donation of Fire Prevention Week kits which include home fire safety and prevention activities and information for children and adults from local State Farm Agent Brent Collins on Thursday, September 21. 

"We greatly appreciate the donation of fire prevention materials that Mr. Collins and State Farm provided," said Fire Chief Ron Fowler. 

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA) is “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.

“The Monroe Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme and cook with caution,” said Chief Fowler. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. We have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

The campaign runs October 8-14 and works to educate families about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe.

“State Farm encourages homeowners to make fire prevention an important part of their overall home safety plan. This is also a good time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning,” said local State Farm Agent Brent Collins.

The Monroe Fire Department 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.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Turn pot handles toward the back to 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. Do not pour water onto a grease fire.
• Keep kids and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.