Here are some tips from PropertyCasualty 360 to help mitigate the risk of a fire this Thanksgiving holiday:
- Stay near the food while you are cooking on the stovetop. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove burners.
- Most cooking fires start while frying food, so keep an extra close eye on those dishes as they cook.
- Roll up your sleeves while you cook to reduce the chance of them catching fire.
- Keep an eye on children and pets to make sure they stay away from the stove.
- If you see any smoke or grease boiling while cooking, immediately turn the burner off.
- If you have an oven fire, keep the door closed and turn off the oven. Keep the oven door closed until it has fully cooled.
- Move flammable items – like dishtowels and curtains – away from the stove before you begin cooking.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to keep people from accidently running into them and knocking them off the stove or tipping them over.
- Turkey fryers should only be used outdoors. They should also be placed on a level, sturdy surface away from flammable materials.
- Check your smoke alarms to make sure they are functioning properly before you begin cooking Thanksgiving dinner.
If you experience a cooking fire, the NFPA recommends the following:
- Quickly get out of the building and close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call the local emergency number after you leave.
- If you attempt to put out the fire, make sure you have a clear way out of the building if you need to flee.
- Keep pot lids near the range in case you experience a small grease fire. If you choose to fight the fire, you should turn off the burner, slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames and leave it covered until it has completely cooled.
Stay safe and enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family.