Resident urges stovetop, electrical and smoking safety during Fire Prevention Month

A resident in Holland City urged neighbors to guard against cooking, electrical and smoking-related fire risks and offered practical steps during a brief public safety message. “Can I tell you about the 3 leading causes of fire in our community? Please,” the resident said.

The resident said cooking, electrical issues and smoking are the three leading causes of fires and recommended several precautions. “To avoid some cooking fires, make sure that you stay near the stove so as to avoid anything overheating and catching fire. Make sure the cook surface is clean. Anything combustible like that dustpan should be removed from the stovetop,” the resident said.

On electrical safety, the resident advised against using extension cords or power strips for large appliances, saying they should be “plugged directly into an outlet.” They also gave a specific example: “I'll take my microwave and I'll plug it directly into the outlet.”

Regarding smoking, the resident urged people to fully extinguish cigarettes in noncombustible containers: “And if you're smoking, make sure those cigarettes get put out into something that won't burn.”

The speaker said the visit was prompted by smelling smoke and noted that October is Fire Prevention Month. The message combined preventive steps — watch cooking, keep cooking surfaces clean, remove combustibles from stoves, plug large appliances directly into outlets and extinguish cigarettes safely — aimed at reducing common residential fire risks.

This was a short, informational statement; no formal action or vote was taken during the message.