CHENANGO COUNTY— October is Fire Prevention Month and this is the 101st annual Fire Prevention Week. The week is a time for local fire department to engage with the public and remind people to be safe.

This year fire prevention week is from October 9 to October 15. The theme is “Cooking safety starts with you. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

City of Norwich Fire Chief Jan Papelino said the NFD will host a public “Open House” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 12. The NFD is located at 31 East Main Street in Norwich. The chief said the department will also be visiting schools in the area.

Papelino said, “The focus is on preventing fires and injuries in the kitchen.”

Kitchen fires are one of the most common types of fires in the home, according to Papelino, and are often caused by residents leaving cooking food unattended.

Turn off the stove. Cover the fire, never use water on grease fires. Cover it with the pan lid if possible or use flour if you are desperate to quell the flames, but never splash burning liquid. You should have a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher near the cooking area.

Call 911 and leave the house if you are in danger.