MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Local fire officials are urging residents to take a few minutes to review home fire safety practices, noting that most residential fires are preventable with basic precautions.
According to fire safety data highlighted during Community Risk Reduction Week, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires. Firefighters stress the importance of staying in the kitchen when frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food and keeping flammable items away from stovetops. In the event of a grease fire, residents are reminded to slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat — never use water, which can cause flames to spread rapidly.
Heating equipment is another major risk, particularly during the winter months. Nationwide, tens of thousands of heating-related fires occur each year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and more than a billion dollars in property damage. Safety officials recommend keeping heaters and fireplaces at least three feet away from anything that can burn and turning off space heaters before leaving home or going to sleep.
Electrical issues also remain a top cause of house fires. Residents are encouraged to replace damaged cords, avoid overloading outlets and power strips, and never plug space heaters into extension cords.
Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are considered one of the most effective fire safety measures. Nearly 60 percent of fire-related deaths occur in homes without functioning alarms. Fire officials advise testing alarms monthly, changing batteries regularly, and installing alarms in bedrooms and hallways.
As part of a “Home Fire Risk Reset,” residents are encouraged to spend just 10 minutes reviewing safety steps, including testing smoke alarms, maintaining a three-foot safety zone around heat sources, ensuring someone stays in the kitchen when cooking, plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets, and practicing a home escape plan with at least two exits from every room.
Fire officials say these simple actions can significantly reduce the risk of fire and help protect lives, property, and families.