Submitted photo The Huttonsville-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Department encourages all residents to pay attention to fire prevention.

MILL CREEK — During Fire Prevention Week, the Huttonsville-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Department is reminding residents to pay attention to fire prevention.

This year’s campaign for Fire Prevention Week, which runs through Saturday, is “Cooking Safety Starts With You.”

The campaign aims to educate families about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe.

“Cooking fires are the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to highlight when and where cooking fires happen most often, along with simple ways to minimize those risks,” said Lorraine Carli, VP of Outreach and Advocacy for the National Fire Protection Association.

The Huttonsville-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Department encourages all residents to cook with caution. In support of this effort, local State Farm Agent Jodie Parrack recently donated a Fire Prevention Week kit to the fire department, which includes home fire safety and prevention activities, as well as information for children and adults.

“State Farm encourages homeowners to make fire prevention an important part of their overall home safety plan,” Parrack said.

“Fire Prevention Week reminds us that cooking with caution should be at the top of the list. This also is a good time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning,” she said.

The Huttonsville-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Department is sharing the following cooking safety tips through this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign:

∫ Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent spills and burns.

∫ Always keep a lid nearby when cooking on the stove. If a small fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

∫ Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

∫ If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

∫ Keep kids and pets 3 feet from the stove/oven and where hot foods and liquids are being served.

∫ Watch what you heat. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

∫ Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from your stovetop.

∫ Be alert. If you are tired or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove/oven.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit www.fpw.org.