VIDEO: City of Mankato Fire Marshal Sean Hayes says in 2024, there were five fires from improperly discarded smoking material and 13 from cooking. Hayes wants everyone to understand all fires are preventable.
He said, “We would like to see three feet of clean space, right? Three feet of area around the heat source, in this case the burner, is free from materials that can burn. One of the common things that we sometimes have seen is maybe somebody is cooking they go to wash their hands, and they take their rag and throw it and go somewhere else. No where close.”
Hayes continued, “To prevent that cooking fire, first off, let’s be prepared. Second, let’s be attentive.”
If a fire is coming out of a pan, Hayes says to calmly cover it and turn off the burner. He also says cooking fires are one issue but the technology in your home could also pose a risk.
