A Moment with the Mayor: Fire Prevention Week

Once again, we look to make sure that we’re prepared in case of an emergency. This year, cooking fires is the focus of the Fire Prevention Week campaign, October 8-14. There are many aspects to fires and cooking, and some I would encourage you to think about include barbecues, stovetops, ovens, toasters and the like. Always ensure the cooking device is not touching something that may light on fire. 

As we prepare for Fire Prevention Week, several messages will be shared in the upcoming week. There are a few that really resonate with me.

1. Stay in the kitchen when cooking, and if you do leave the kitchen, shut off the burners first.
2. If you’re cooking more than one thing at a time, have a helper whenever possible so you’re not trying to cook so many things at once.
3. When barbecuing, set a timer if you’re going in and out of the house. 

The Lloydminster Fire Department shared with me that inattentive cooking is one of the leading causes of residential fires in Lloydminster. At the time of my writing this article, the department has had 42 reported fires so far this year, 10 of which were cooking related. Additionally, 90 of the 220 false alarms the department has attended this year were cooking-related. 

For readers, the simplest way to explain a false alarm is when the department responds to a call that results in a non-emergency or caused by a faulty alarm system. In cooking instances, there is no fire or immediate threat to life safety.

Based on past national reporting and investigations, it’s believed that most cooking fires occur because people leave the kitchen, often to do something as simple as answering the phone. 

Something that I have recently learned is that most planter material is not actually soil and can be highly combustible. Never butt out your cigarette into a plant pot. If you smoke, make sure you use a metal container filled with sand to butt out your cigarettes. 

And unless you regularly burn food and set off the smoke detectors in your house, it’s important to make sure that your smoke detector is working. This Fire Prevention Week, remember to test your smoke detector to ensure it works to help keep you and everyone else safe.

Together, we can respond to fire threats and keep safety first.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster

The community is invited to the Lloydminster Fire Department's annual Fire Prevention Week open house at Station No. 2 (2716 59 Avenue) from 3:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the station, see inside the fire trucks and view the equipment used. Child-friendly activities will also be available. Snacks and beverages will be provided, while supplies last.