October is Fire Prevention Month

San Marcos Fire Department Open House 2023

 10.07.23 SMFD Open House InvitationFPW23theme_FB

This year’s NFPA Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.” 


As Fire Prevention Week approaches, San Marcos Fire Department reminds residents: “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

08/01/23 — The San Marcos Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW)  for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.  

According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths. 

“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.” 

The San Marcos Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU”.  A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

San Marcos Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

  1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
  2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. [FA2] 
  3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

The San Marcos Fire Department is hosting their 2023 Open House support of this year’s FPW campaign. Come join us at Station 5  (100 Carlson Circle) on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 11AM to 2PM. The event is free and open to the public.

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.

Look at the fun we had at Open House!  We hope to see you in October!

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Press Release 2019 - San Marcos Fire Department Kicked Off Fire Prevention Month with their Annual Open House!

To kick off Fire Prevention Month, the SMFD opened its doors to all in an Open House. The purpose was to learn about fire prevention with fun interactive events and demonstrations. Over 1000 kids, parents and grandparents were invited to enjoy the Annual Open House held on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Fire Station 5.

Guests took rides in a fire truck, watched a clown show teaching fire safety, and witnessed a vehicle rescue demonstration, raced in an inflatable obstacle course, enjoyed free hotdogs and free child ID kits. SMPD, S.W.A.T., Hays County and San Marcos Animal Services, San Marcos/Hays County EMS, and Pink Heals, SMFD had their apparatus out to tour and Hays Unmanned Robotics Team gave demonstrations.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.

Did you know?

In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out. Plan ahead for your escape. Make your home escape plan and practice today.

"Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go," said Fire Chief Les Stephens. "No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately."

Other Activities for the month are: San Marcos Domino's® and NFPA partnered with SMFD to promote working smoke detectors with pizza deliveries, visits to schools and daycare facilities, and the department's home smoke detector program.

Open House is held every year on the first Saturday of October. Hope to see you there!

Thank you Sam's Club for your generous donation of food and supplies for our event!


Plan Your Escape + Grid