Kawartha Lakes, Scugog raising awareness to prevent kitchen fires

Kawartha Lakes, Scugog raising awareness to prevent kitchen fires

by The Standard | October 1st, 2020 Podcast https://thestandardnewspaper.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/KwLks-Sgog-Fire-prevent-week-Oct-1st-2020.wav

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES/SCUGOG: The 2020 edition of Fire Prevention Week runs from Sunday, October 4th until Saturday, October 10th, and local fire departments are preparing to handle the occasion a little bit differently. The City of Kawartha Lakes is holding scavenger hunts at 13 parks and outdoor spaces in the municipality. “All you have to do is, visit one of our participating park locations, find the seven secret safety phrases and complete our online form. If you submit the phrases correctly, you’ll be entered into our draw. Find the clue poster, scan the phrase’s QR code and the secret phrase will appear on your phone,” a poster for the event explained. The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” Kawartha Lakes fire prevention inspector and public educator Alana Erwood told The Standard why they decided to run this type of event. “We chose the scavenger hunt as a fun social distancing activity that can be completed as a family. Each scavenger hunt clue contains a phrase to be entered online, along with kitchen fire safety tips,” she stated. Ms. Erwood said the theme of this year’s prevention week is timely because “cooking fires continue to be the leading cause of home fires in Ontario.” For more information on participating locations, and how to enter the contest, go online to www.kawarthalakes.ca.

Meanwhile, Scugog Township is doing online activities and contests. Residents are encouraged to go to my.scugog.ca/firesafety to get fire safety tips and enter contests, like the junior fire chief for a day contest and the colouring contest. “Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in Canada, and we know that cooking fires can be prevented! Please join us for a week of fun and education to embrace Fire Prevention Week, virtually,” read a statement from Kristy-Lynn Pankhurst, Scugog’s Fire Prevention Officer.