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April 22, 2013 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the 2013 Fire Prevention Week theme: “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” NFPA selected this theme to encourage greater care when cooking and an awareness of kitchen fire dangers. As cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries, NFPA will use the week of October 6-12 to promote safe kitchen habits with stoves, microwaves and other appliances. Remaining attentive while cooking and managing how close children and pets are to anything hot will help keep families safe.

Video: Sparky the Fire Dog® and Ken Willette, NFPA’s division manager of Public Fire Protection announce the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2013.

NFPA is announcing the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2013 to coincide with the opening of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). Thousands of firefighters from across the globe will gather for this conference in Indianapolis to train, network and learn.  Conference attendees are invited to stop by NFPA’s booth to view new campaign materials that will be on public display for the first time.

“On average, firefighters respond to more than 400 kitchen fires every day” says Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. “By making kitchen fire safety the theme for 2013 Fire Prevention Week, we can raise the awareness of the leading cause of fires, unattended cooking, and provide life saving safety tips to improve the safety of everyone in the home.”

The 2013 Fire Prevention Week campaign materials prominently feature Sparky the Fire Dog®, NFPA’s mascot. Sparky’s Wish List is an online registry where fire departments request much needed educational materials and individuals or businesses purchase items for them. Nearly 700 fire departments have registered.

NFPA is providing important kitchen safety tips to homeowners that align with the Fire Prevention Week theme:

• When you fry, grill, or broil food, stay in the kitchen.
• Maintain a kid- and pet-free zone at least 3 feet away from the stove.
• Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
• Keep a lid and oven mitt nearby when you’re cooking to use in case of a grease fire. If you have a grease fire, slide a lid over the pan. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more information and safety tips.

About Fire Prevention Week
NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance each October since 1925.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

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