The Lakewood Fire Department has released a new short fire-safety video ahead of Chanukah, aiming to reduce the risk of kitchen and candle-related fires.
The video outlines several core safety guidelines:
Cooking Safety
• Never leave frying food unattended.
• Use a deep, stable pan and avoid overfilling with oil.
• Keep children away from the cooking area.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother grease fires and never use water on burning oil.
Menorah Safety
• Place menorahs on stable, non-flammable surfaces.
• Keep candles away from curtains, decorations, and other flammable items.
• Do not leave lit candles unattended and keep them out of children’s reach.
Officials also reiterated the need for functioning smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every home.
At minimum, smoke alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area and on every level of a residence. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be placed outside sleeping areas.
The department warns residents never to disconnect alarms and to investigate immediately if a detector sounds. Carbon monoxide alarms do not replace smoke detectors, and vice versa.
“Do not rely on your sense of smell,” the announcement notes. “By then it may be too late.”
Residents are urged to alert other occupants when evacuating due to a fire alarm or carbon monoxide alert, especially in multi-family buildings. While residents should not delay their own escape, notifying neighbors on their way out can save lives.
The department also encourages families to review the basics of “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” a simple but effective technique for extinguishing clothing fires.
The release includes a simple latke recipe featured in the video, offering step-by-step instructions for preparing traditional Chanukah foods safely.
More fire-safety information for parents, children and educators is available at the department’s website, www.lakewoodfd.org, under the Safety Page.
Nice job Berger 🙂