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HVFC: October Is Fire Prevention Month

By Olivia Drake, HVFC Information Officer.

(October 17, 2023)—October is Fire Prevention Month and Haddam Volunteer Fire Company is hoping to raise fire safety awareness to protect the families in our community.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s 2023 Fire Prevention theme is “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.

“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, accounting for half of all U.S. home fires,” said HVFC Captain Josh Meyer, who is spearheading Fire Prevention activities for the Town of Haddam. “A cooking fire can grow quickly, and we’ve witnessed many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Haddam Volunteer Fire Company and the NFPA offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire:

1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

HVFC is honoring Fire Prevention Month by visiting area school children.

On Oct. 11, during Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14) firefighters visited the Haddam Cooperative Nursery School.

Photos by Olivia Drake

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