The official website of the City of Mansfield, Texas

Careless Cooking is the #1 cause of residential fires

It is always best to prevent a fire than to have to deal with one. Remember to use a moderate cooking temperature, don't overfill the container, and if you must leave the kitchen, turn the burner off . Unattended cooking is the primary cause of kitchen fires. Over half of these are grease fires.

• Turn pot handles away from the front of the stove.
• Curious children may reach up and grab the handle, pulling the hot contents down on themselves.
• Don't position handles over another burner, it may catch on fire or burn someone who touches it.
• Wear short sleeves or tight fitting long sleeves when cooking to reduce a clothing fire hazard.
• Shield yourself from scalding steam when lifting lids from hot pans.
• Make sure pot holders are not too close to the stove.
  They could catch fire!
• Keep ovens, broilers, stove tops, and exhaust ducts free from grease.
• If there is a fire in the oven - Turn off the oven and keep the oven door closed.

Over half the people attempting to extinguish a kitchen fire are injured. Often the best advice is to get everyone out of the house and call the fire department (911) from a neighbors house. Never try to move the pan, don't throw water on it, and don't put flour on it.

If you attempt to extinguish the fire, it is best to use a class ABC multipurpose fire extinguisher. Follow the manufacturers instructions - stay back 6 to 8 feet and be careful not to spray the grease out of the pan. Baking soda can also smother the fire. If the fire has not burned for more than fifteen seconds, it may still be possible to turn the burner off and use a tight fitting lid to smother the fire, but only if the fire is still small and has not spread beyond the pan.

• Drivers are asked to avoid driving their vehicles if they are unsure how deep the water may be. You may not be able to tell how deep the water on the road is, where the curbs are or if there are any hidden dangers, such as ditches.
• Citizens should avoid walking through swift and deep waters. The water is not only filled with different bacteria and germs from waste, but also hides hidden dangers, such as holes.
• Parents and Guardians should always watch their children around swimming pools.

According to the National Safety Council there are more than 4000 drowning deaths nationally each year. With the approaching warm weather, the Mansfield Fire Rescue recommends these following pool safety rules:

Never leave a child alone near water.

• Use approved personal floatation devises.
• Beware of neighborhood pools, removing toys in and around the pool when it is not in use.
• Pool barriers offer added protection against drowning, but make sure there is no standing water on the surface. Children can drown in very small amounts of water.

Enroll children over age three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors. But keep in mind lessons do not make your child “drown-proof.”
Teach your children these four key tips:

1. Always swim with a buddy
2. Don't dive into unknown bodies of water and jump feet first to avoid hitting your head on shallow bottom.
3. Don't push or jump on others.
4. Be prepared for an emergency.

Always have a first aid kit and emergency phone contacts handy. Parents should be trained in CPR.

• Swim in supervised areas only.
• Obey all rules and posted signs.
• Watch for dangerous “too's” – too tired, too cold, to far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
• Don't mix alcohol and swimming
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts.
• Sweep off areas of standing water around the pool.