Second Red Bulb Placed on Fire Safety Wreath

A fire in the 8300 block of Gardenia Circle is the second red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath. Escambia County Emergency Communications received a phone call reporting a kitchen fire in a single story multi-residential building at 1:55 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Escambia Fire Rescue crews arrived on scene at 2 a.m. to find moderate smoke showing from the roof.

The fire was called under control at 2:22 a.m., with the unit a total loss. The fire displaced one adult and one child who are being assisted by the American Red Cross. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire was unattended cooking. It is vital to remember that according to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Unattended equipment is a factor in one-third of reported home cooking fires and half of the associated deaths. When cooking:

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
• If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Make sure your home has a working smoke detector. If you need assistance, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.

The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the city of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County's Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home. For more tips on how to stay safe during the holiday season, visit myescambia.com/KeepTheWreathGreen.