DEADLY COOKING FIRES IN PROVINCE DAMPEN HOLIDAY SPIRITS

Stay in Kitchen with your Cooking

TORONTO, Dec. 17 /CNW/ -

NEWS

In the last week in Ontario, cooking related fires claimed the lives of three persons and seriously injured two more. To prevent any further tragedies Acting Fire Marshal Doug Crawford is urging everyone to stay in the kitchen while cooking and to turn off the stove if they must leave for any reason.

For the entire month of December last year, ten people died in fires in the province. This December, there have already been 11 fatalities. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires.

Important steps to prevent home fires include:

• Staying in the kitchen while cooking, particularly when using oil or high temperatures.
• Keeping combustible items such as cooking utensils and paper towels a safe distance from the stove as they can easily ignite if they are too close.
• Keeping a proper fitting lid near the stove when cooking. If a pot catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove.
• Drinking responsibly and keeping an eye on those who do not. Excessive alcohol use is a contributing factor in many residential fires.

QUOTES

"It is absolutely vital that everyone stay in the kitchen when cooking. These deaths and injuries are needless and can easily be prevented. The Fire Service of Ontario doesn't want anyone else to experience a similar tragedy over the holidays." -- Doug Crawford, Acting Fire Marshal of Ontario 

QUICK FACTS

In Ontario, it is the law to have working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

LEARN MORE

Visit the www.ofm.gov.on.ca for additional information on fire safety and prevention.

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For further information:

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3178