Fire Prevention Week ~ October 8-14

submitted by Donald Alward, Fire Prevention Officer at Hillsborough Fire Department.

As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Hillsborough Fire Department reminds residents: “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”


​The Hillsborough Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.  

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in Canada. “Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “This tells us that there is still much work to do when it comes to educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”

The Hillsborough Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU.” A cooking fire can grow quickly. Many homes are damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.

Hillsborough Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire. 

1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
2. 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.
3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 1 meter around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried. 

The Hillsborough Fire Department is hosting an Open House in support of this year’s FPW campaign on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at the Fire Hall in Hillsborough – 2789 Main Street beginning at 6:30pm. Stop in for a free BBQ and cake, have a look at some of the specialized firefighting equipment, pick up the latest Fire Prevention messages, ask us questions and watch some of the firefighters play ‘Jaws of Life Jenga’ – a skill-building exercise that teaches precision and control with this very powerful tool. The popular ‘Parade of Trucks and Lights’ will also take place that evening, so be sure to bring the kids along. Sparky the Fire Dog will also be on hand to greet kids of all ages and pose for photos.For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.