During Fire Prevention Week, 91原创 City fire crews will be spotted around the community at local grocery stores and elementary schools.

Fire Prevention Week (FPW) runs Sunday, Oct. 8 to Saturday, Oct. 14, and aims to educate people about the simple, but important, things they can do to keep themselves safe from fire.

This year鈥檚 theme centres on cooking safety, a leading cause of house fires and house fire injuries.

鈥淎 cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented,鈥� said Cpt. Bob Perry, fire prevention officer.

To celebrate the week, information packages will be sent to elementary students with details on how to enter the 鈥淔ire Chief for a Day鈥� contest.

Kids in Kindergarten to Grade 3 can enter for a chance to win a private visit to the City fire hall, a fire chief hat, and a ride to school in a fire truck.

Schools will also hold a fire drill as part of Fire Prevention Week, and those that do will be entered into a draw for a $200 gift certificate from the Downtown 91原创 Business Association.

Firefighters will be participating in grocery bagging events at three grocery stores:

• Thursday, Oct. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Safeway: 20871 Fraser Hwy.
• Friday, Oct. 13 from 9 to 11 a.m. at No Frills: 5501 204th St.
• Friday, Oct. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Save-On-Foods: 20151 Fraser Hwy.

Members of the 91原创 City fire department will pack customers鈥� groceries while sharing cooking fire safety tips and information.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to understand and appreciate how things get hot fairly quickly, how to use an extinguisher, how to put lids on things that do flare up,鈥� said deputy chief Dean Colthorp with 91原创 City fire rescue.

Ahead of FPW, City Fire Rescue Service offered some tips to stay safe while cooking:

• Watch what you heat: always keep a close eye on what you鈥檙e cooking. Set a timer to help.
• Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove: always keep a lid nearby when cooking, and if a small grease fire starts slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Kid- and pet-free zone up to three feet (one metre) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

City fire is also hosting a 鈥渇ire prevention poster鈥� contest which is open to Kindergarten and Grade 12 students. Schools around B.C. are participating.

Students must enter one poster hand-drawn or created with digital media that brings attention to fire prevention activities with a focus on the theme 鈥渃ooking safety.鈥�

Details to enter the contest are available online at .

Fire Prevention Week is observed internationally each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871. It killed 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

For more information on cooking safety, people can visit .

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