October is Fire Prevention Month (Oct. 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week), a century-old tradition established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 1922. So, we asked the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM), helmed by Louisiana State Fire Marshal Daniel H. Wallis, for fire safety awareness tips to educate and protect locals.
The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Month is “Pay attention to Fire Safety, Cooking Safety Starts with You.” According to the NFPA, unattended cooking is the #1 cause of home fires. At the top of the State Fire Marshal’s list of fire safety tips when cooking, is never leave the kitchen when cooking is underway.
“There’s a tried-and-true motto when it comes to cooking safety and that is ‘Stand by Your Pan,’” said Ashley Rodrigue, Public Affairs Director for the SFM.
The rule applies to all appliances – stove, oven, microwave as well as outdoor grill. The SFM recommends keeping the cooking area free of flammable items, including rags, boxes, bags and plastics and making sure children stay at least three feet clear of the cooking area to prevent burns. They also emphasize that working smoke alarms are critical to safety when cooking.
In New Orleans, the New Orleans Fire Department will install smoke alarms free of charge to the community and change smoke alarm batteries for the physically challenged and elderly. Nine-volt smoke detector batteries should be changed every six months. Newer smoke alarm models with a 10-year battery life are also available.
On a state level, Operation Save-A-Life is a program that partners the State Fire Marshal’s Office with local fire departments across Louisiana to install, for free, 10-year sealed smoke alarms in homes of families that need them most.
- Remember the acronym PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
- Pull the pin to break the tamper seal.
- Aim low, pointing the extinguisher nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent.
- Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out.
Knowing what to do if a fire does occur when cooking is equally important. The SFM recommends the following: in case of an oven fire, leave the oven closed and turn it off. In case of a small stove fire, smother it with a lid and turn the stove off. If a fire is too large, use a fire extinguisher if you have one (a Class B fire extinguisher is most ideal for kitchen fires). And if not, get out and call 911. Finally, the SFM stresses “Remember, oil and water don’t mix.” If you have a grease fire, do not try to put it out with water (use a lid to suffocate it as stated above). And do not place frozen foods into hot oil for frying – always let them defrost first.
“The most common mistake people make is thinking a fire incident won’t happen to them,” said Rodrigue, who suggests the below websites for more information on cooking safety.
For additional information on general fire safety guidelines, including getting everyone including pets out of the house swiftly and safely, visit: Sfm.dps.louisiana.gov.
About the Expert
Chief Daniel H. Wallis has been part of the fire service for 40 years. He began his career as a Junior Firefighter in the 1970s and worked his way through the ranks to being named State Fire Marshal in 2022.