December 21, 2016 - With the holiday season upon us, we are entering one of the most festive times of the year. But it can also be a deadly time of the year. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue is urging everyone to pay special attention when cooking during the holidays, and to drink responsibly. Careless cooking is the number one cause of fires and the second leading cause of fatal fires.

"The hustle and bustle of the holidays can dramatically increase your risk of having a fire," said Fire Chief John Hay. "All too often, these fires are started by unattended cooking and in many cases alcohol is involved."

Enjoy a fire safe holiday season by following these tips:

  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Careless cooking is the leading cause of home fires, so don't leave the kitchen if there's something cooking on the stove. If a pot catches fire, don't try to move it. Cover the pot with a lid to smother the flames and turn off the burner.
  • Keep things that can burn such as cooking utensils and paper towels a safe distance from the stove as they can easily ignite if they are too close. 
  • Encourage smokers to smoke outside and discard their cigarettes in a metal container that stays outside. 
  • Drink responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is a contributing factor in many residential fires. 
  • Install and maintain working smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Install and maintain working carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel fired appliance, fireplace, or attached garage. 
  • Failure to comply with the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $360 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.
  • Develop and practice a home escape plan with everyone in the home.   

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Contact:  Anthony Stokaluk, Public Education Officer - Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, 625-2802, cell 631-7033 or astokaluk@thunderbay.ca