FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2023
CFD Announces Fire Prevention Week Event Schedule for 2023
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The Charlottesville Fire Department (CFD) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW) for over 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” The campaign educates everyone on simple but important actions they can take while cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.
“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”
The Charlottesville Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme: Cooking Safety Starts with YOU.
“A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.” - Scott Carpenter, Deputy Chief, CFD
CFD offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Turn the pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Have a kid and pet-free of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill, and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
CPD is hosting a series of events to support this year’s FPW campaign, including fire station visits and community discussions on fire safety.
Events
Sunday, Oct 8 Fire Prevention Week Kickoff
5th St. Station
11 am to 3 pm
CFD and ACFR will host the event with other public safety partners
Monday, Oct 9 / Tuesday, Oct 10 / Wednesday, Oct 11
Ridge St. Station (203 Ridge Street) & Fontaine Station (2420 Fontaine Ave)
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm each day
Stations will be open to visitors. Meet your firefighters and learn about fire safety.
Monday, Oct 9
Westhaven Community Center
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Engine Visit and Fire Prevention Table
Tuesday, Oct 10
Miche Drive (Hearth Wood)
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Engine Visit and Fire Prevention Table
Wednesday, Oct 11
South 1st Street (900-1000 Block)
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Engine Visit and Fire Prevention Table
Friday. Oct 13
Downtown Mall – Central Place
11 am to 2 pm
To learn more about FPW programs and activities in Charlottesville, please follow CFD on social media. For more information on Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.
CFD Social Media
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Media Contact
Kyle Ervin
Public Safety Information Officer
City of Charlottesville
(434) 326-3043
