Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips That Make Preventing A Cooking Fire Simple

11/3/2017 (Permalink)

Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires in a home, with three times as many fires as any other day of the year.

Tips You Can Be Thankful For

Thanksgiving is the nation’s leading day for cooking fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the number of cooking fires on Thanksgiving is three times as high as on any other day of the year.

In addition to the hazards posed by stovetops, turkey fryers and candles contribute to the elevated fire risk on. When following a few basic precautions, preventing a cooking fires is simple. Remember, while you should always have a fire-extinguisher nearby and know how to use it, don’t delay calling 9-1-1. Ideally, use the extinguisher immediately, as someone else calls 9-1-1.

Stovetops and Ovens

It’s easy to become distracted when preparing several dishes at once while also trying to entertain guests. Cooking fires can easily be prevented by following a few simple precautions:

• Clean your stove and oven. Remove food and grease buildup from burners, stovetop, and oven.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
• Stay in the home when cooking turkey, set a timer, and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove.
• Have a flame-resistant oven mitt, potholder or lid nearby to smother any flames.
• It you have an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• Check to make sure your smoke alarms are working properly and have an escape plan that the entire family knows if there is a fire.

Turkey Fryers

Never use a turkey fryer indoors, in the garage or on a covered patio because of the fire hazard. Many turkey fires occur while the oil is being heated. Fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot, scalding oil onto anyone or anything nearby, leading to fires, burns or other injuries. Since most fryers do not have automatic thermostatic controls, oil may heat until it catches fire. The sides, lids, and handles get extremely hot and may cause burns.

Turkey Frying Safety Tips:

• Read and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Completely thaw the turkey.
• Do not overfill the fryer with oil. Before filling the fryer with oil, test it out with water. Place the turkey inside and then fill it with water until the bird is submerged. Mark the water line on the fryer so you will know how much oil to put in the fryer.
• Never leave the fryer unattended.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
• Only use the oil recommended by the manufacturer.
• Allow at least two feet of space between the liquid propane tank and the fryer burner.
• Potholders or oven mitts should be well-insulated; wear safety goggles to protect eyes from oil splatter.
• If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn OFF the gas supply.
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby.
• Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.

Candles

Candles are responsible for an estimated 15,600 residential fires a year, causing 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries, and $539 million in property damage. More than half of candle fires are a result of a candle being placed too close to flammable holiday decorations. Always keep children in mind when decorating.

Don’t let a cook fire put a damper on your holiday fun. Call SERVPRO of Upper Darby, PA at  (610) 352-0700 for all your cleaning, water damage, fire damage and mold remediation needs!