Ahead of Fire Prevention Week – Is Your Restaurant Safe?

3 Min Read By Adam Olijnyk

As a result of the Great Chicago Fire that killed 250 people in 1871, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed an annual week in October as Fire Prevention Week, now the longest-running public health and safety observance on record. 

In 2020, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.4 million fires in the United States. These fires caused 3,500 civilian fire deaths and 15,200 reported civilian fire injuries. Property damage was estimated at $21.9 billion. More than one-third of the fires (490,500 — or 35 percent) occurred in or on structures. Most fire losses were caused by these fires, including 2,730 civilian fire deaths (78 percent); 13,000 civilian fire injuries (86 percent); and $12.1 billion in direct property damage (55 percent).

Ahead of this year’s Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, Society Insurance has put together top tips for restaurants to better protect their building, staff and patrons, including by properly maintaining cooking equipment, avoiding flaming…