Hundreds attend WISH-TV Fire Safety Event

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Hundreds turned out for a community fire safety event Saturday to learn new ways to help protect Hoosier homes. 24-Hour News 8 teamed up with local fire departments to help spread the word about the dangers of cooking fires and show how to keep your kitchen safe.

You're more likely to have a fire start on your stove than any other place in your home. Last month, a 24-Hour News 8 story showed some of the hidden dangers that can come from cooking fires.

They are dangers Carol Harrison saw firsthand early Saturday morning in her apartment at Indianapolis’ Bethany Village.

“I started coughing, and I thought--why am I coughing? And, I looked and saw those fire engines out there and and the guys with their axes and hoses,” Harrison said.

Minutes later the answer became clear: her neighbor's apartment was on fire.

“And, I understand now it was a stove fire. And, it completely burned his stove up. They got it out, but that hit too close to home,” she said.

It's an all too common story.

Nationwide, more than 40 percent of all house fires start on a stove. In Indiana, firefighters are called to more cooking related fires than electrical, arson, candles and smoking related fires combined.

“It's probably the most common cause of a fire that I'll see on a day to day--putting something on a stove and forgetting about it,” said Indianapolis Fire Department firefighter Jeff Owens. “The way you react can be critical. We all make mistakes. But, those mistakes can make a difference in whether they live or die.”

“People can hear the numbers all they want, but as soon as they see it live in action, it makes much more of an impression,” agreed Pike Township Fire Department Public Educator Eileen Orban.

A simple device called StoveTop FireStop also made an impression on Orban’s department. Pike Township helped test the device, which automatically extinguishes grease fires using a flame resistant powder, with WISH-TV.

“The two biggest at risk groups are the little bitties and the senior citizens. The more that we can get that message out to them, we can hopefully lower those numbers and make them groups that aren't at risk anymore,” Orban said.

So, when Harrison saw WISH-TV was hosting a fire safety event Saturday morning at North Meridian Hardware, she had a simple thought.

“We need those,” she said. “So, I came down here to get one.”

She wasn't alone.

The event featured plenty of family fun, including performances from MC Axe and Kasey the Fire Dog, hot chocolate and coffee from the Salvation Army’s canteen truck, food trucks, sidewalk chalk, appearances from Pike Township’s fire dog Dempsey, fire trucks from Wayne Township and IFD, fire education materials from IFD, cornhole tournaments and prizes donated by WISH-TV and Wilds Restoration.

WISH-TV gave away 10 pairs of StoveTop FireStops and smoke detectors during the event. IFD also provided replacement batteries for smoke detectors.

But, for those like Stan Meriwether, the event was important for another reason.

“I had a fire in my home and it started on my stove. Thankfully, I got it put out. But, I just feel like this is a better way of going about it,” he said, pointing to a FireStop device.

“[I came here] to get some peace of mind, and [I feel] a whole lot better,” Meriwether continued.

“The average burn cost in a house is 10,000 dollars,” said North Meridian Hardware owner Keith Payne. “Just this little simple action [of installing a FireStop device] could save 10 grand, and save a life If we're able to help even one household save a life or stop a house from burning, we've done our job.”

North Meridian Hardware continues to sell the StoveTop FireStop. You can also order a pair of the devices online by clicking here .