The 12 Days of Fire Safety – Day 1

Public Advisory:
The 12 Days of Fire Safety – Day 1

Municipal Affairs
December 8, 2016

As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians prepare to celebrate the holiday season, the Provincial Government is reminding residents to take steps to protect their homes and loved ones from potential fire hazards.

This season, Fire and Emergency Services (FES) will mark the lead up to Christmas with the 12 Days of Fire Safety. Every weekday until Christmas Eve, FES will provide seasonal fire safety tips as well as a chance for families to enter a fire safety photo contest.

Day 1: Holiday Cooking
Cooking is a leading cause of home fires year-round but the risk increases during the holidays. Follow these tips to help ensure safe meal preparation:

Do not cook if you are impaired by alcohol or other drugs;
Do not leave your stovetop or oven unattended when in use;
If cooking food in oil, only use a pan or fryer with a thermostat control.
Check food regularly to ensure it is not burning; and
Keep anything flammable, such as oven mitts, a safe distance from sources of heat.
If faced with a cooking fire, follow these steps:

Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Cover the pan, turn off the stovetop, and leave it until it cools;
If food catches fire in your oven, turn off the heat and ensure the door remains closed;
Never fight a grease fire with water. Always use a fire extinguisher; and
Just get out. Call 911 and evacuate the building.
Residents are invited to tweet a photo @MA_GovNL External of you or your family practising fire safety during the holiday season during the 12 Days of Fire Safety. One entrant will be chosen to win an emergency preparedness kit. Watch for our 12 days of fire safety for ideas.

For more information about fire safety and emergency preparedness, please visit: www.gov.nl.ca/fes/.

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Media contact:

Lynn Robinson
Media Relations Manager
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2016 12 08           3:30 p.m.