Fire Prevention Week October 8 to 14

The City of Maple Ridge Fire and Rescue Services is reminding residents of the importance of cooking safety during Fire Prevention Week, which takes place October 8 to 14.  

This year`s Fire Prevention Week theme ‘Cooking Safely Starts With You – Pay Attention to Fire Prevention’ raises awareness of simple but important actions everyone can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe. 

Residents are encouraged to stay safe in the kitchen as cooking is the number one cause of home fires. A cooking fire can cause damage and injuries which can easily be prevented.

Residents are provided with three safety reminders to help reduce the risk of cooking fires:

  • Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
  • Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
  • Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least three feet (one metre) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

The City takes part in Fire Prevention Week each year by educating the community on the year’s theme. 

Contest Information 

The annual Fire Prevention Week contest is open to all students from kindergarten to grade 12 who are attending an Indigenous, public or independent school in British Columbia.

Rules and Timeline

To enter, each student should do the following:

  • Complete a home fire escape plan by following the instructions. Talk to the people you live with about what you've learned and how everyone can stay safe from fire and escape quickly should one happen in your home.
  • Fill out the entry form (PDF) and send it to the BC Professional Firefighters' Burn Fund no later than October 23, 2023.
  • Only one entry per student
  • Entries will be divided into the grade indicated on the entry form, so be sure to complete it accurately.

By mail:

BC Professional Firefighters' Burn Fund
3891 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
V5V 3P1

By email:  FirePreventionWeek@BurnFund.org

Prizes: 

  • 12 iPads - one per grade
  • 12 Panago pizza parties - one per grade

Contest Timeline

  • October 23 – Deadline for sending completed entry forms
  • Week of November 27 – Winners will be chosen
  • Beginning of December – Winners will be announced
  • January 2024 – Prizes will be presented

If you have any questions or comments, please email them to OFC@gov.bc.ca.

Enter Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest by Oct. 23

The contest is organized by the Office of the Fire Commission in partnership with the BC Professional Burn Fund, the Fire Prevention Officers Association of BC and the First Nations Emergency Services Society. For more information about Fire Prevention Week visit www.gov.bc.ca/FirePreventionWeek 

Fire Safety Tips & Resources

  1. Fire Escape
  2. Smoke Alarm
  3. Plan Your Abilities
  4. Different Homes
  5. Two Ways Out
  6. Meeting Place
  7. Practice Plan

Home fire escape planning 

Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and planning. 

Plan Ahead! Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.

Here is a handy tip sheet that you can download to make your home fire escape plan.

Did you know that according to an NFPA survey, only one of every three households has actually developed and practised a home fire escape plan? Follow these steps to create your family’s home safety plan today