News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cooking is one of the leading causes of home fires.
This is National Fire Prevention Week. Cookeville Fire Chief Daryl Blair said 66 percent of home fires start when food or cooking items ignite. Blair said knowing how to react to a grease fire can keep a bad situation from getting worse.
“A lot of people their first reaction is pour water on it, that’s one of the worst things you can do to a grease fire is pour water on it,” Blair said. “As soon as that water hits it, it’s gonna expand it out and it’s just gonna splatter it everywhere.”
Blair said the best way to handle a grease fire is keeping a lid nearby to smother the fire until it’s cooled down. Blair also suggested keeping baking soda on hand. Blair said other good kitchen safety tips are to keep a clutter free kitchen and avoid leaving your cooking unattended.
“You don’t want combustible materials, stuff that’s easy to ignite close to your stove, ovens your grill,” Blair said. “You could have it at least three feet away from the cooking area, and that includes towels, a lot of people use wooden utensils.”
Blair said unfortunately this year the Cookeville Fire Department cannot do the outreach it would like because of the pandemic. However, Blair said there is still information he wants kids to know.
“Ever since I can remember being in the fire service is to stop, drop and roll, that’s one of the main things that we try and work with kids on,” Blair said. “Talk to their parents about having an escape plan if something was to happen.”
Blair said another good fire prevention practice is to check smoke alarms, and change out batteries when clocks move forward or back during the year. Blair said the Cookeville Fire Department will provide residents with smoke alarms through a program with the state Fire Marshal’s Office.
