Fire Prevention Week: Cooking is the leading cause of home fires

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It’s Fire Prevention Week across the nation and according to the American Red Cross, cooking is the leading cause of house fires.

As we head into the colder months, the Red Cross said they usually see an uptick of home fires.

Jocelyn Hillard with the American Red Cross Connecticut, Rhode Island Region said on average, the Red Cross responds to at least one fire a day in Rhode Island.

“House fires are the nations most frequent disaster, and although we don’t want it to happen to anyone, we know that home fires are reality,” Hillard explained.

Hillard said Fire Prevention Week is a good time to check your smoke alarms and create a two-minute fire escape plan with your family.

“What you do within those two minutes is spend time with your family, identify the exits out of each home and also identify a safe place outside so that if something were to happen, you know the plan,” Hillard said. “Make sure that your cooking space is clear, not only our children and pets three feet from the stove but also anything that may catch on fire like a dish towel, a paper.”

Also, be sure to turn your burner off if you see smoke and lever leave the stove unattended.

Hilliard said having a working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half.

The Red Cross offers a free smoke alarm and home fire education program which can be accessed here.