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What is the top cause of home fires? Cooking leads to the most fires and fire-related injuries in the home. You can follow a few safety tips to prevent kitchen fires: fpw.org.
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tand by your pan! Unattended cooking is the top cause of fires in the kitchen. And overall, cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of fires and fire-related injuries at home.
• Stay alert. If you're tired or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove. • Remain in the kitchen while frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period, be sure to turn off the stove. • If you are simmering, baking or roasting, check the food regularly, remain at home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. • Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop—for example, oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, curtains and long sleeves. • Clean the stovetop, oven and burners. • Have a kid-free and pet-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove.
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fter five summers cutting grass for South Fayette Public Works, Riley Supan joined the township full-time in January. As part of the Parks and Facilities Division, he contributes to the upkeep of buildings, grounds and amenities. "Everyone is good to me, and I enjoy the atmosphere," he says. "I'm always learning." Hometown: South Fayette Family: Parents Kelli and Bill; older brothers BJ and Cory; fiancee Ashley Pets: Yellow Labrador retrievers Dagwood & Luna; betta fish Hades
Those messages are from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, which marked Fire Prevention Week in October with a campaign about cooking safety. These tips can help prevent cooking fires: Always cook with caution.
RILEY SUPAN
If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire…
Education: Graduated from South Fayette High School in 2019; earned associate degree in fire science administration from CCAC; attending Point Park University online for bachelor's in public administration
• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
Activities: Firefighter for nine years at Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
First Job: Mowing lawns
• Never pour water on a grease fire. If you have any doubt about fighting a small kitchen fire… • Just get out. Close the door behind you to help contain the fire. • Call 911 from outside the home. Learn more at fpw.org or contact your fire department: southfayettepa.com/fire. Abbey Scheerer is an administrative assistant with South Fayette Township.
Hobbies: Fishing, going to drive-in movies, hanging with his "fire hall family"
First Car: 2003 yellow Nissan Frontier supercharged pickup truck Favorite Movies: "Star Wars" trilogy and "The Monuments Men" Favorite Food: Grilled Spam and cheddar Bucket List: Visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras Best Quality of South Fayette: "When push comes to shove, we are all there for each other." Fun Fact: All Supan siblings have worked or interned at the township, and their father is the Oak Ridge fire chief. — Andrea Iglar South Fayette Connect | Fall 2023 | 3
