October 2, 2008, Canton, MI A pot holder too close to a lit burner or a space heater left on overnight could be all it takes to start a home fire.  In fact, cooking and heating are among the leading causes of home fires in the United States, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). 

Thats why Canton Fire Department is urging residents to Prevent Home Fires during Fire Prevention Week October 5-11, 2008.  This years campaign focuses on preventing all the leading causes of home fires cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking materials. 

During Fire Prevention Week, Canton Firefighters will be taking the departments Fire Safety House to all third grade classes in Canton, giving children the opportunity to experience and learn about fire in the home while in a safe and controlled environment.  Firefighters have also been requested to speak to various classrooms about fire safety, and will be giving fire station tours to scheduled groups. 

While any home fire can be devastating, the good news is that many are easily preventable when residents take simple steps to increase their safety from fire, said Fire Marshal Frank Barrett.  Whether its not allowing smoking inside the home, keeping space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, or staying in the kitchen when you are using the stovetop, there are easy things you can do to keep your home and family safe from fire.

By taking action and following some basic fire safety tips, you can prevent home fires all year-round:

Cooking: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.  If you leave the kitchen for even a short period time, turn off the stove.
Heating: Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
Electrical: Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords; use extension cords for temporary wiring only.  Consider having additional circuits or receptacles added by a qualified electrician.
Smoking: If you smoke, smoke outside; wherever you smoke, use deep, sturdy ashtrays.

For 85 years fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.  For more information on Fire Prevention Week visit the departments website at www.cantonpublicsafety.org.

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