The Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department was the first formal fire department in Howard County, established in 1888 to organize a community based firefighting crew in the event of a fire. The original volunteer organization still exists today. ECVFD, in conjunction with the Howard County Department of Fire Rescue Services (HCDFRS), operates two fire stations, four engines, three ambulances, a heavy rescue squad and two brush units. An additional ambulance and tower are operated by HCDFRS but are housed within the Ellicott City station. We use all these resources to help keep our community safe. During the Virtual Open House we will be providing the community with ways they can keep their homes safe, especially when cooking delicious meals in their kitchens!

Kids:
Download and print this cooking safety seek and find activity from sparky to learn more about how to keep your kitchen safe.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T6Cd9uYWyoKJ2pazbeJRzKp44F3TXl1g/view?usp=sharing

Adults:
During 2007–2011, fire departments responded to an average of 156,600 home structure fires that involved cooking equipment per year. These fires caused an average of 400 civilian fire deaths, 5,080 civilian fire injuries, and $853 million in direct property damage per year (National Fire Protection Association)”. Check out this fact sheet from NFPA for more statistics on kitchen fires. https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Community-tool-kits/cooking-kit/Cooking_Fire_Facts.ashx