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Merrimac Fire Chief Ralph W. Spencer and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan urge residents to help prevent cooking fires and injuries this holiday season.
Cooking is the leading cause for home fires and injuries, and so Merrimac Fire Chief Ralph Spencer and State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan are urging residents to use caution while cooking in a new statewide cooking fire safety public awareness campaign. This campaign has two main messages to prevent home fires: Stand by Your Pan to prevent cooking fires and Put a Lid On It to safely put grease fires out.
“Cooking is something most of us have to do every day yet it is the leading cause of fires in our community,” said Chief Spencer. “We’re concerned because cooking fires can be fatal, especially for elders, and we must take steps to safeguard our families.”
Chef Ming Tsai partnered with the Department of Fire Services to educate the public on the importance of standing by your pan in the kitchen, and is featured in the television and radio spots.
“The kitchen is no place to multi-task. Leaving pots and pans unattended can be a recipe for disaster,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. “We partnered with Chef Ming Tsai to drive the message home that whether you cook for one or 100, safety is a key ingredient to any recipe.”
According to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS), there were 9,806 residential fires in Massachusetts involving cooking in 2010, which resulted in one civilian death, 95 civilian injuries, 32 firefighter injuries and an estimated $6.9 million in property damage.
“One of the first lessons you learn as a chef in the kitchen is safety,” said Ming Tsai, local business owner and host of a cooking show. “I was proud to partner with the State Fire Marshal in this effort because this is such an important issue that everyone can relate to. Whether you are simply boiling water or sautéing an intricate dish, having a lid handy is still your best ingredient to ensure a tasty meal.”
The public awareness campaign will include television, English and Spanish radio, and a Toolkit for local fire chiefs with educational materials, bookmarks and a print PSA.
Important Cooking Safety tips:
- · Stand by your pan, when cooking. Never leave food, grease or oils cooking on the stovetop unattended.
- · Put a lid on it. In the case of a grease fire on a pan, slide the lid on the pan to smother the fire, and then turn off the heat. Water or fire extinguishers will not work. They will only spread the fire.
- · Never move a burning pan. You can be badly burned or spread the fire.
- · Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking, because loose fitting clothing can easily catch on fire.
- · If your clothing catches fire, Stop, Drop and Roll to put out the flames.
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