The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety is recognizing Fire Prevention Week; the theme this year is “Cooking Safety starts with YOU! Pay Attention to Fire Prevention.” It was established by the National Fire Protection Association, highlighting fire-safe kitchen practices. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Some 49% of all home fires involve cooking equipment, according to the NFPA.

National Fire Prevention Week will also be integrated into school curriculums in New Jersey. The Division of Fire Safety helps inform residents about risk reduction strategies, fire department preparedness and firefighter training programs.

“In addition to having working smoke and CO alarms in your home in case of a fire emergency, it is very important to be fire safe in the kitchen,” said state Fire Marshal Mikutsky. “We need to focus on what we are cooking without distractions, keep the cooking area clean of combustible items, and have a ‘kid-free zone’ around anything hot that is being prepared.”