(KNSI) — Fire departments throughout central Minnesota are joining forces to raise awareness about safety during Fire Prevention Week this week.
St. Cloud Fire Department Captain Anthony Lorenz says they’re taking their message to the streets. “It’s our opportunity to get a public safety message out for the public. This year’s public safety message is that ‘cooking safety begins with you.’ And all the intricacies of maintaining a safe household, which starts in the kitchen.”
This year’s theme, Cooking Safety Begins with You, stresses the importance of preparedness in the kitchen.
He says the number one cause of fires is unattended food left cooking on the stove. Firefighters also recommend a three-foot kids-free zone around cooking food to prevent accidents.
Lorenz says a highlight of the week is visiting with kids. “The fire trucks will be in the schools and interacting with the students. We’ll probably ask them to go home and spread the message to their parents. So if they come home with some fire safety topics that they’d like to talk about, it’s certainly an opportunity for you to engage with your children. Maybe, figure out a meeting place outside of the home if you were to have a fire, that’s always a good rule of thumb.”
Many fire departments will be holding open houses too. They include:
Sartell Fire Department, Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Sauk Rapids Fire Department, Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m.
St. Cloud Fire Department Fire House Three, Wednesday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
St. Joseph Fire Department, Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Waite Park Fire Department, Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Fire Prevention Week is held during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The blaze killed more than 300 people and burned over three square miles of the city.
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