GRANVILE -- It's time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 8-14 Campus Security & Safety and theVolunteer Fire Department are joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind both students and local residents to 'Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat.' During this year's fire safety campaign, firefighters and safety advocates will be spreading the word about the dangers of cooking fires -- most of which result from unattended cooking -- and teaching local residents how to prevent cooking fires from starting in the first place.

According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen -- more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries.

"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," said Brad Essick,Fire Chief. "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."

Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates will be emphasizing:

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. This is the 85th year that fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575