Keep you and your family safe during holiday season

A news release by Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services is urging people of Chatham-Kent to pay special attention when cooking during the holidays, and to drink responsibly. Provincial statistics reveal that 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 Public Educator Whitney Burk, “All too often, these fires are started by unattended cooking and in many cases alcohol is involved.”

The Fire and Emergency Services offered a few tips for keeping you and your family safe:

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking.

• Keep things that can burn such as cooking utensils and paper towels a safe distance from the stove.

• Drink responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is a contributing factor in many residential fires.

• Install and maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas of the home. Smoke alarms also are required on every storey.

• Develop and practice a home escape plan with everyone in the home. Including guests.