Thanksgiving Fire Safety

Fire Facts

• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day with cooking fires occurring more than twice as often as any other day.
• Thanksgiving Day home fires cause more property damage and claim more lives than home fires than any other day of the year.

Thanksgiving Preparedness

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen remember to turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food make sure to check it regularly. Always remain in the home while food is cooking.
• Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep kids away from the cooking areas and enforce a “kid free zone” of at least three feet around the stove.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
• Keep at least one ABC-rated fire extinguisher in your kitchen area where you have easy access to it.
• Remember that smoke alarms save lives, make sure that all the ones in your residence are operating properly by testing them before cooking.

Turkey Fryer Safety

• Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors at a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn. Remember to keep them on a level surface when cooking.
• Make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for the use of your turkey fryer.
• Only use oils with high smoke points such as peanut, canola and safflower. Remember to pat the turkey dry also before dropping it into the oil to keep it from spattering and popping.
• It can take up to 20 minutes to an hour to heat the oil depending on outside conditions. Maintain an oil temperature of 350 Degrees F and slowly lower the turkey into the oil. Use well insulated potholders or oven mitts while handling the pot or lid handles. Also if possible wear safety goggles tp protect your eyes from oil splatter.
• Never leave the fryer unattended and keep children and pets away from the fryer while cooking. Remember to keep them away even after usage because the oil can remain dangerously hot hours after usage.
• Make sure that the turkey is properly thawed before frying and never overfill your fryer which will lead to spillover.
• Remember to keep an all purpose extinguisher nearby, never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Use good judgment when attempting to extinguish a fire. If you have a large Fire call 911 immediately.
• Keep at least two feet of space between the liquid propane tank and the fryer burner.
• If you receive a minor burn injury immediately run cool water on the burn for 3-5 minutes. Never apply butter or lotions to the burn as they can keep the skin hot and increase the injury. For serious burns seek medical treatment immediately.