October 6, 2024 – It’s Fire Prevention Week (October 6 – 12)! This year’s theme is Smoke Alarms: Make Them WORK For You! ™
Working smoke alarms significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire. Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Here are some links to stories from our media partners to Keep Michigan S.A.F.E.
It’s no secret that food brings people together. Spending time in the kitchen can be a fun way to bring family and friends together, whether you’re making a favorite family recipe, baking up a delicious dessert or experimenting with a new ingredient. But the fun can quickly turn to chaos if a fire occurs in the kitchen.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) says cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries.
That’s why this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” This year, October 8-14 is recognized as Fire Prevention Week.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments in the United States respond to an estimated average of 172,000 home cooking fires each year. Those fires cause an estimated 550 deaths, 4,820 injuries and more than $1 billion in property damage a year.
“To prevent cooking fires, you must stay alert,” says firefighter Michael McLeieer, president of the nonprofit E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety. “You will not be alert if you are sleepy, have consumed alcohol, or have taken medicine or drugs that make you drowsy.”
As you start preparing your next meal and organizing that large family feast, remember to play it safe! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety, First Alert, the NFPA and USFA have some steps you can take to keep your kitchen and kids safe and prevent fires.
Remain in the Kitchen When Cooking
An adult should remain in the kitchen when anyone is frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
Stay at home when simmering, baking or roasting food and check it regularly.
Watch what you heat – Use a timer when cooking to help ensure you don’t lose track of the time. This is an especially important kitchen fire safety tip for beginner cooks.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that no one can bump the pot or pull it over.
Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby while cooking. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire as this will put the fire out.
Keep the Kitchen Free from Clutter
Remove items that do not belong in the kitchen and avoid any additional fire hazards.
Be mindful of kitchen materials that are flammable and can easily start fires such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, curtains or even excess food packaging and keep them away from the stovetop or other cooking surfaces.
Give everything a specific place in the kitchen to help reduce the risk of it being left out and catching fire, ensuring the kitchen remains a safe place.
Unplug or Turn Off Appliances
Unplug any countertop appliances when they are not in use, like toasters and coffee makers. This will help reduce the risk of a fire starting.
Turn off the appliance you are using as soon as you are finished cooking your food.
Clean off leftover dust, food crumbs and grease from your stovetop after use.
Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms
Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home including in the basement.
A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month, replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries at least once a year and replace alarms every 10 years.
Larger homes may require additional smoke alarms to provide a minimum level of protection.
Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home for the best protection so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound. When you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than 2 minutes to get everyone outside and safe. Call 9-1-1 once outside and at the pre-designated meeting place (tree, neighbor’s house, etc.).
Make sure everyone can hear the sound of the smoke alarm anywhere in the home.
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, install smoke alarms with alert devices (pillow or bed shaker or a flashing strobe light).
Install smoke alarms away from the kitchen to prevent nuisance alarms. They should be installed at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance.
Create a Kid-Free Zone Around Your Stove While Cooking
Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
Never hold a child while you are cooking, drinking a hot liquid, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto a burner.
By following these safety tips, you will have a delicious and fire-safe meal!
Here are our television and radio broadcasts promoting Fire Prevention Week 2023
Maranda visits the Coopersville Polkton Fire Department in Ottawa County to learn from experts about the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme which focuses on safe cooking. – 10-05-2023 11:45 a.m and 3:45 p.m.
WILX News 10 interviews the PIO for Michigan MABAS, Michael McLeieer near Lansing, MI about the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. – 10-08-2023 6pm
Fox 17‘s Max Goldwasser interviews E.S.C.A.P.E.’s president and founder firefighter Michael McLeieer about the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. – 10-09-2023 7:20 a.m.
WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 Morning Show Host Ken Lanphear interviews E.S.C.A.P.E. founder Michael McLeieer about Fire Prevention Week 2023 – 10-09-2023 8:15 a.m.
10-09-2023 – Max Goldwasser expands his fire safety interview during the 9 am hour after 2 children died in an overnight house fire in the City of Kalamazoo.
10-10-2023 10 a.m. – Michael McLeieer visits the Fox 17 Morning Mix to share fire prevention tips.
Firefighter Michael McLeieer, president and founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. talks with WLNS 6 News anchor Chivon Kloepfer about the Fire Prevention Week theme for 2021 and ways you and your family can prevent a home fire and stay safe!
It’s #FirePreventionWeek! This year’s theme is Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety! ™ E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. president and founder firefighter Michael McLeieer talks to Ken Lanphear on the WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 Morning Show about this year’s theme and steps you and your family can take to prevent a home fire and stay safe.
Here is a link to the live interview on Monday October 4, 2021 at 6:50 a.m.:
The next stop of the day was in Grand Rapids on eightWest at WOOD TV 8 at the downtown Media Art Center Studio inside the Grand Rapids Art Museum at Rosa Park Circle.
10/04/2021 – WLNS 6 News – Sunday, October 3rd kicks off the start of Fire Prevention Week with experts focusing on reminding people to have working smoke alarms at home. A beeping smoke alarm in the middle of the night might be tempting to pull out the battery to make it stop. But Fire Inspector Michael Roberts with Delta Township Fire Department says don’t do it.
“It’s still very concerning how many times we have a smoke alarm issue or we have a fire and there are still not working smoke alarms in a home,” he said.
He said that people often just forget to install smoke alarms or replace the batteries. Roberts has some advice on where to place your smoke detector.
“…away from the wall, away from the exhaust fans, ductwork, ceiling fans. So that they can detect smoke the quickest, ” he said, “we personally like them up in the ceiling”.
Delta Township Fire Department recommends changing your smoke detector batteries every six months. A good rule of thumb is when you change your clocks during your daylight savings time you should also change the batteries on your smoke detectors.
But fire prevention week isn’t just a reminder to check your smoke detectors, it’s also about making sure you’re doing your part to keep firefighters safe.
“The number two cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States is vehicle accidents. And so we want to come out and make sure that everybody understands that what we do is dangerous, even when we are driving to emergencies, trying to get to people who are asking for our help,” Roberts said.
Fire safety expert Michael McLeieer says distractions like phones or loud music can keep drivers from noticing fire trucks on the road until it’s too late.
“Part of the problem today is that our vehicles today are much better insulated than what they ever used to be. And if we have a stereo on, we have the air conditioner on, or what have you, we might not necessarily hear that emergency sirens or see those flashing lights,” he said.
Roberts said first responders are more likely to get into a crash on the way to a scene. He hopes drivers remember a simple tip.
“Pull over to the right. Let that emergency traffic go by so that we can keep the community safe and you can help keep us safe,” he said.
Fire Prevention Week 2021 is October 3 – 9 and we have a fun way to celebrate together!
Post a photo or video of your favorite fire safety action or slogan now through October 9th to Jake The Fire Dog’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) and use #MISAFE as the hashtag. Examples include drawing a slogan (Get Out and Stay Out, Know Two Ways Out of Every Room, Close your bedroom door before you go to sleep) or posting a photo of your family drawing and practicing your home escape plan, going outside to the meeting place…a tree, a neighbor’s house, a sidewalk, or your outside safe meeting spot) or creating your own message that will encourage others to take proactive steps to prevent a home fire and stay safe!
Here is a free template to download and draw your home fire escape map! Home Escape Map WOTV
We will select a few entries and award fun prizes to the winners!
E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc., an award-winning fire safety organization is teaming up with AARP Michigan, WOTV 4 Women, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), First Alert®, the National Volunteer Fire Council and the Michigan fire service for Fire Prevention Week 2020. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!™ The campaign runs from October 4-10 and works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. “Cooking fires are preventable,” said Firefighter Michael McLeieer, president and founder of the non-profit charity E.S.C.A.P.E. “It’s important that people stay in the kitchen when they are cooking, use a timer as a reminder when the food is done and avoid distractions such as electronics or televisions. These are some of the important steps everyone can take to keep families safe in their homes,” according to McLeieer.
A cooking fire can grow quickly. Each year many homes are damaged and people are injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.
E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. and AARP Michigan offer this recipe for Fire-Safe Cooking.
Keep an eye on what you fry. Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
Stand by your pan. If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
You have to be alert and awake when cooking. Alcohol and some drugs can make you sleepy.
Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flames. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so no one can bump them or pull them over.
Have a “kid-free and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities Where You Live, please contact your local fire department. For more information about cooking fire prevention, visit www.nfpa.org/fpw or www.escapeinc.org.
Making sure your family has a safe escape plan in case of a fire in your home is important to ensure everyone’s safety. Since October is National Fire Prevention Month, Maranda from WOOD TV 8 and WOTV 4 Women visited the Newaygo Fire Department along with her friends from E.S.C.A.P.E Fire Safety to talk about how they are promoting and encouraging fire safety in the community.
These fire safety experts encourage families to make an escape plan and talk about it with your family so everyone is on the same page incase a fire breaks out in your home. They also suggest not only planning the escape plan, but also practicing it so kids will have the muscle memory to react fast in the case of an emergency. They also strongly suggest all families to check smoke and carbon dioxide detectors at least every 6 months to ensure they’re working and up to date.
Maranda thanked her friends from the U.S. Fire Administration and FEMA for awarding her the Certificate of Appreciation for “exemplary service and commitment to our community”. What an honor! Thank you, Maranda for all you do serving our community!
For more information on fire safety, visit escapeinc.org or visit your local fire department.
Plan, practice and pick a place, 3 very important things that can save lives in the event of a fire. This is fire prevention month and today eightWest has Michael McLeieer with E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety and the President of the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs, Dave Glotzbach in studio with us.
Plan and Practice your escape
Pick a meeting place once outside
Call 911 from a neighbor’s house or your cell phone
