The Weyburn Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association this year to promote their new fire prevention campaign, "Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!".

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries related to home fire injuries in Canada which can be started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. While it is important to learn to cook, it is equally as important to know how to be safe while in the kitchen.

“The most important step you should take before making a meal is to Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” said Weyburn Fire Chief Simon Almond in a media release yesterday. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Regardless if it's just a pack of ramen noodles or Cuisses de Grenouille, the Weyburn Fire Department is sharing safety tips to help keep you safe while cooking.

  • Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, burning, or broiling your food. If you have to leave, turn your oven off.
  • 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.
  • Be alert while cooking. You can't be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or have consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy. While a glass of wine may pair well with your bouillabaisse, save it for the meal.
  • Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when cooking in case a small grease fire starts. If a fire should start while you're cooking up some delectable bacon, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame and leave the pan covered until the pan is completely cool.
  • Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 1 metre around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

The City of Weyburn and the Weyburn Fire Department will continue to share tips on how to ensure you can cook up a storm safely.