Don't put fire safety on back burner

HURON — Local firefighters joined a national effort to educate residents on the dangers of cooking fires. Stove and oven fires, which the National Fire Prevention Association says is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, is the topic of this year's Fire Prevention Week, which ran from Oct. 8-14. Huron fire spent the week in city schools teaching pre-K through 4th-grade students about cooking safety. Milan Township and Berlin Township's fire departments also educated schoolchildren and they — in addition to other local fire agencies, including Sandusky fire — posted informative infographics on their social media accounts. Cooking up some knowledge Here are some cooking safety pointers courtesy of the National Fire Prevention Association: Cook with caution • Be on alert — If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop. • 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. • If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a small/grease cooking fire and decide to fight the fire • On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire • Just get out — When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. • Call 911 or the local emergency number from outside the home