Crime & Safety
Fire Prevention Week Features Valuable Lessons Throughout Howell
Events held at firehouses and municipal buildings through the week.
The Howell Fire Bureau will be hosting event events around the township this week as part of Fire Prevention Week. As part of the week the bureau’s fire safety trailer and hazard house will be at different firehouses and municipal buildings.
Chief Bob Hotmar said the fire bureau takes Fire Prevention Week as a chance to remind residents of all ages of the importance of fire safety. “Often when we’re called to a fire that started in the kitchen, the residents tell us that they only left the kitchen for a few minutes.” He added, “Sadly, that’s all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. We hope that Fire Prevention Week will help us reach folks in the community before they’ve suffered a damaging lesson.”
The National Fire Prevention Association reports that two of every five home fires start in the kitchen which is more than any other place in the house. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire injuries.
Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After being at the Farmingdale Community Day on Saturday the hazard house was scheduled to be at the Howell Public Library on Tuesday until 2 p.m. The Squankum Fire House will then host the trailer from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Wednesday morning the Farmingdale School will play host to the trailer from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The trailer will then move to the Ramtown Fire Department from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Hazard House will the move to the Howell Municipal Complex from noon until 2 p.m. on Thursday before a stop at Sears Hardware at the same time on Friday.
Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
On Friday night the trailer will be at the Southard Fire Department from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. before heading to the Adelphia Firehouse from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday. The tour ends on October 26 when the trailer will stop at the Home Depot on Route 9 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
For those people who cannot attend one of these events Chief Hotmar has the following fire safety suggestions.
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three away from the stove.
When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
