It’s Fire Prevention Week October 5 – 11, and this year’s focus is on motivating people to test their smoke alarms each month to make sure they’re working properly. According to Guardian Safety Solution International, Inc., one key place a working smoke alarm is important is in the kitchen. The National Fire Protection Association reports that cooking was involved in 156,400 home fires in 2010 (latest figures available). These fires caused 410 deaths, 5,310 injuries and almost $100 million in direct property damage. Those were the reported fires, but it is estimated that more than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported and cause 640,000 injuries annually.
“Home owners and apartment dwellers are at most risk for fires because of inattentiveness…the phone rings, you answer an email, the baby cries. There are so many distractions in today’s busy world, it’s easy to start to cook a meal and then forget about it,” says Paul Rouse, GuardianSSI’s administrative officer. “Next thing you know, a fire starts on the stove and quickly spreads to curtains and other flammable material.”
In addition to working smoke detectors and a handy fire extinguisher, Rouse recommends installing the Guardian III Model G300B, UL and ULC listed with a fuel shut-off. The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and prevent re-ignition in private homes, apartments, senior housing, college campuses, hospitals and other facilities. See how the Guardian works here.
Once it detects heat at a pre-determined temperature, the Guardian sends a signal to release an extinguishing agent that suppresses the fire. Guardian will also shut off the gas or electric supply to the stove in order to prevent reigniting. “It makes sense in this busy world to have as much safety equipment as possible available to prevent or extinguish kitchen fires,” says Rouse.
Protecting families worldwide since 1985, GSSI is the recognized leader in the development and manufacturing of residential range top fire protection systems. GSSI’s mission is to develop and distribute quality safety products that provide customers with peace of mind, while protecting lives and property. For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit guardianssi.com. Like Guardian on Facebook at GuardianSSI and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
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