With Thanksgiving approaching it’s time to remember some important fire safety tips that will keep you and your family safe this holiday.
Thanksgiving is the busiest day for residential house fires in the United States. On average fire departments respond to more than double the usual number of fires on this day. Nearly forty percent of all house fires are caused by cooking, so it is important that we stay extra aware of this on Thanksgiving.
The following are some fire safety tips you should know:
- Stay in your kitchen when you are cooking.
- Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
- Use a timer to remind you when to check the food.
- Keep combustibles away from the stove and make sure to leave handles on pots and pans turned inward.
- Avoid wearing baggy or loose clothing while cooking.
- Make sure the oven is clean before you begin to cook.
- Have a fire extinguisher easily accessible.
- Turn your oven off once the food is done cooking
- Keep a lid nearby, so in the event of a small grease fire you may use the lid to smother the fire.
- If an oven fire occurs, leave the door closed and turn off the oven.
- If you are going to use a turkey fryer, make sure the unit is outside and far away from any structures. Be sure to use a completely thawed turkey and do not over fill the fryer.
