Kitchen safety is this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week

This year’s Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10) theme is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

South Dakota Fire Marshal Paul Merriman says cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries and unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen. He says people need to be careful and attentive when using any type of heating source in the kitchen.

Merriman says firefighters nationwide use the week to remind the public, especially children, about making sure how to get safely out of homes during a fire. He says they also emphasize the importance of having working smoke alarms on all floors of the home.

For more on this year’s theme, go to www.firepreventionweek.org.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.