Buffalo, New York – October marks the 101st anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, the nation’s longest-running public health observance on record. Mayor Byron W. Brown and Fire Commissioner William Renaldo announced today that the Buffalo Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts With You”, educating everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safer when cooking. Cooking is one of the leading causes of reported home fires and home fire injuries. To learn more about cooking safety, Mayor Brown encouraged residents and families to attend one of the 5 scheduled Fire House Open Houses in Buffalo.

Mayor Brown stated, “When children and their families stop by one of our City’s Fire House Open Houses, they will learn invaluable life-saving practices that highlight our continued effort to reduce the public’s risk to fire, house fires or cooking-related fires. I thank the Buffalo Fire Department for its continued commitment to the safety of our City residents and business owners. We all know that the best way to prevent injury and property loss due to a fire is to be prepared.”

Below is a list of October 2023 Fire House Open Houses in Buffalo:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2023

ENGINE 2 / 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM - 376 Virginia & Elmwood

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023

ENGINE 36 / 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - 860 Hertel Avenue

ENGINE 4 / 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - 939 Abbott Road & Hollywood

ENGINE 21 / 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - 1229 Jefferson Avenue & Kingsley

ENGINE 23 / 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - 3226 Bailey Avenue

The Buffalo Fire Department encourages all City residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. Following are key messages behind this year’s “Cooking Safety Starts With You!”

• Always keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. For foods with longer cooking times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
• Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.
• Turn the pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking.
• If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Create a “kid and pet-free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Commissioner Renaldo stated, “October is Fire Prevention Month, and the Buffalo Fire Department would like to remind the community to remain vigilant in the kitchen. Cooking injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of injury in the United States. We look forward to meeting residents in person at our upcoming Fire House Open Houses to share a few more safety tips to keep people safe in the kitchen.”

Join Mayor Byron W. Brown, Fire Commissioner William Renaldo, and members of the Buffalo Fire Department for a fun-filled month of Fire Safety! To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Buffalo, go to www.buffalony.gov or contact the Buffalo Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau at (716) 851- 5333 extension 752.