FIRE
PREVENTION WEEK 2006
Fire Prevention in the Kitchen
It comes
around every year. Since 1920, when President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed
it, Americans observe National Fire Prevention Day on Oct. 9. Since 1922, the
week that includes Oct. 9, Sunday through Saturday, has been observed as Fire
Prevention Week.
The Fire
Prevention Week observance was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire
that began on October 8, but continued into, and did most of its damage on,
October 9, 1871. The fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless,
destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.
According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow belonging to a Mrs.
Catherine O'Leary, kicked over a lamp and started a fire that spread from the
barn to the whole city.
Fire
Prevention Week 2006, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
and running from October 8 through 14, will concentrate on preventing fires that
start in the kitchen. “Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat” is the theme
for this year’s event.
A majority of
reported home fires, three in ten, start in the kitchen, more than in any other
room or area in the home. Kitchen fire prevention is just as important in
cafeterias and restaurants. Here are a few basic tips from the NFPA for
preventing cooking fires: