Westchester Launches Unique Fire Safety Video Campaign In Response To Deadly Fires

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Recent tragedies in the community have increased public awareness of the threat of residential fires, and requests from the community for resources to head off preventable emergencies.

Public safety officials have responded in a big way.

Westchester County has launched a fire safety campaign aimed at helping residents reduce the risk of fires in their homes, with a series of four public service videos set to roll out over the coming weeks. The Department of Emergency Services announced the effort Monday in White Plains, where County Executive Ken Jenkins introduced the campaign during his weekly news briefing.

According to the county, the videos focus on major causes of home fires and steps residents can take to lower their risk. The campaign also includes practical information on maintaining smoke detectors and preparing a family evacuation plan if a fire happens. The videos are available on the Westchester County Government YouTube page.

Jenkins tied the campaign to recent fire activity across the county.

"On Friday night alone, the 60 Control communications center at DES dispatched 17 structural fire events throughout the County," Jenkins said. "We are focused on giving people the information they need to keep themselves and their families' safe."

According to the announcement, the campaign follows a rise in public inquiries for fire safety information after deadly fires in Westchester this year. The first video, released Monday, centers on kitchen fire safety, which the county described as an area of the home where a sizable number of fires occur.

The kitchen video urges residents to keep pot handles facing inward so a child or pet cannot pull a pot off the stove. It also advises keeping a lid nearby when cooking, especially when frying, so a fire in a pot or pan can be smothered quickly. Residents are also advised to keep a fire extinguisher nearby in a place where it can be reached safely if a stove fire occurs, and to never leave food cooking unattended on the stove.

The remaining videos will focus on preventing common causes of bedroom fires, maintaining smoke detectors and replacing the devices or their batteries on a regular schedule, and creating and practicing a family evacuation plan.

"There have been several recent severe and fatal fires here in Westchester," DES Commissioner Susan Spear said. "The Department of Emergency Services wants to be sure residents have useful information to help prevent house fires and know what to do in case of a fire. We focused on the most prevalent types of fires – kitchen and bedroom, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and family evacuation plans. These simple tips can save lives."

Chief Mark Iannucci of the DES Fire Division said residents can get more fire safety information from their local fire departments as well as DES. He said residents should use non-emergency phone numbers to contact fire agencies for information and reserve 911 for emergencies.