National Fire Prevention week's theme is ‘Watch What You Heat'

Warwick — What do you think is the number one cause of home fires? Faulty electric? Candles? Wrong — it’s cooking. Unattended cooking is the main cause of home fires in the country, which is why this year’s campaign by the National Fire Protection Association for National Fire Prevention Week is “Watch What You Heat.” Most of us do it. We’ll put something in the oven and run out for a quick errand. Some even put a pot on the stove top and walk away. According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, that’s a recipe for trouble. Between 1999 and 2002, there were 114,000 reported home fires associated with cooking per year, which resulted in 290 deaths and more than 4,000 injuries. Thirty percent of all home fires start in the kitchen with unattended cooking as the leading cause of all home fires. Two thirds of the home fires start with cooking on the stove top. Electric ranges have a higher risk of fire, injuries and property damage, but gas stoves have a higher risk of fire deaths. The statistics are startling. Fire Prevention Week was created more than 80 years ago to help raise awareness of fire prevention and safety. It begins on Sunday, Oct. 8, and continues through Saturday, Oct. 14. This is when many local fire department visit schools or have students visit their firehouses. Most injuries reported in home fires are from civilians fighting the fire themselves. Village of Warwick building inspector Dan Kelly also reminds residents to check their smoke detectors. Every bedroom should have one and there should be one in the hallway outside of the bedrooms. Every level in the house should have at least one smoke detector, including the basement. A carbon monoxide detector is also required on the same level with bedrooms. Some tips from the NFPA: • Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles, for example, pot holders, towels, drapes and food packaging. • Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a three feet “kid free zone” around the stove. • Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire. • Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated. • Always keep a pot holder, oven mitt or lid handy. If a small fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. • Never pour water on a grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire. • If there is a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the microwave. Call the fire department and make sure to have the oven serviced before you use it again. For more information on Fire Prevention Week, including a quiz on home fires, log onto www.nfpa.org.