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Fall
Fire Safety
Spring |
Summer |
Fall | Winter
I would like to remind residents that the
burning of leaves is not allowed in Burbank. With the increased use of
outdoor fireplaces, please remember that these items are designed for use
with logs and not leaves. Any questions regarding the use of outdoor
fireplaces should be directed to the Fire Department. I strongly suggests
that residents who use outdoor fireplaces e extremely careful and follow
the manufacturer's instructions and NEVER use gasoline to start a fire in one
of these units. I ask that residents be considerate to neighbors when using
the outdoor fireplaces because smoke from these units can get into
neighbors' houses through an open door or window. In addition to smoke
concerns, burning embers can escape from the unit. In the event this does
happen, make sure the embers are out when landing, and in the event there is
a fire call the Fire Department immediately. Most of all be extremely
careful when using outdoor fireplaces around children, and PUT THE FIRE OUT
before going in for the night the fire could easily be extinguished with
water.
This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week is
“Watch What You Heat” and, although Fire Prevention Week has passed, every
week is Fire Prevention Week in the fire service, because fire departments
across America cannot spread the word in one week, we promote fire safety
every day. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in conjunction
with the fire service promotes a theme to focus on for public education for
our children and citizens in the United States. This year’s focus is on
cooking and kitchen safety.
More fires start in the kitchen than in any room in our homes. Why is the
kitchen such a danger zone? Too often during our hectic day we fail to pay
attention to what’s cooking, distractions come in many ways, the telephone
rings, our children call for help, or someone comes to the door and we
forget what we were cooking, and the consequences can be far worse than just
burned food. Like any home fire, cooking fires can spread very quickly,
primarily because of the constant fuel source and the type of foods cooking,
leaving you just minutes to escape safely. The Burbank Fire Department asks
you to follow these tips for safer cooking:
Stand by your pan!
Most fires in the kitchen occur because cooking is left unattended.
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
If you leave the kitchen only for a short period of time, turn off the
stove.
If you are simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it
regularly, remain home when cooking, and use a timer to remind you that the
stove or oven is on.
No kids allowed!
Keep kids away from the cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of 3
feet around the stove.
When young children are in the home, use the stove's back burners whenever
possible, and remember to turn pot handles back to reduce the risk that pots
with hot contents will be knocked over.
Never hold a small child when cooking.
Keep it clean!
Keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, oven mitts, wooden
utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels or curtains away
from your stovetop.
Clean food and grease from burners, stovetop and broilers.
Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. Loose
clothing can catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric
burner.
Microwave with care!
Plug the microwave oven directly into an outlet. Never use an extension
cord for a microwave can overload the circuit and cause a fire.
Use only microwave-safe containers to heat food.
Allow food to cool for a minute or more before you remove it from the
microwave.
Open microwave containers slowly; hot steam escaping from the containers
can cause painful burns. Be sure to let food and liquid cool before eating
them.
NEVER use aluminum foil or metal objects in a microwave oven. They can
cause a fire or burn hazard and damage the oven.
Kitchen fires 101
While the following tips can help you put out a SMALL kitchen fire, never
forget how dangerous fire can be. If you are unable to put out the fire, get
out of the home and call 911. Remember “When in doubt, Get Out!”
If you have a fire in your microwave, turn it off immediately and keep the
door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. Unplug
then appliance if you can safely reach the outlet.
Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small
grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid
over the pan (make sure you are wearing the oven mitt). Turn OFF the burner.
To keep the fire from restarting, DO NOT remove the lid until the pan is
completely cool.
In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep their door closed to
prevent flames from burning you or your clothing.
Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen in case of an emergency. You can
place it in a cabinet close to the stove/oven. Make sure you know what type
of extinguisher you have, what type of fire it will but out and how to use.
In addition to cooking and kitchen safety, there are other key fire safety
key tips the Fire Department would like to remind the residents to follow.
With our season changing, the warm sunny days of summer dwindling, colder
days will soon prevail. It is also the time to get your home ready for the
coming fall and winter months. The Fire Department asks residents to be
careful when storing yard equipment and fuel for these pieces of equipment
as well as torch fuel that was used during the summer. These highly
flammable liquids should be stored in the garage or backyard shed, in
approved containers and away from any heat source.
Home Fire Safety Tips:
All homes should have at least one smoke detector on each level, do not
forget to check your detector's every month, and change the battery every
year.
All home should have a carbon monoxide detector.
Each family should have an ESCAPE PLAN in the event of a fire and practice
it with all family members.
Use outdoor fireplaces properly and be considerate of your neighbors.
Following these Fire Safety Tips, together we can all make the City of
Burbank a fire safe community.
Stay safe,
Chief Harper
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