Have a Safer Thanksgiving with These Fire Prevention Tips

Thanksgiving Day is one of our most important celebrations, but did you know that it’s also the leading day for home cooking fires? That’s why Thanksgiving fire safety should be our top priority during this celebration. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with almost three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year.

Each year, on average, around 2,000 residential building fires are reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day. These fires cause deaths, injuries, and millions in property loss. We all know that on that big day, the kitchen becomes the heart of many homes, and that’s why it’s so important to be extra careful when cooking all those delicious extras. So, as you begin preparing for your family dinner, keep these fire safety tips in mind.

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips

• Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen even for a few minutes, turn off the stove.
• When cooking your turkey, check on it frequently and never leave the house.
• Alcohol (or drowsiness) and cooking don’t mix! Don’t use the stove or stovetop if you are too sleepy or have consumed alcohol.
• Use a cooking timer to remind you when it’s time to turn off the stove or oven (or to switch the pans).
• Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing and roll up your sleeves when cooking. If you have long hair, tie it back.
• Keep flammable things, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, your clothing, or food packaging, away from the stovetop.
• When cooking, keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Put it out by sliding the lid over the pan and then turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. Never throw water onto a grease fire!
• Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen for extra prevention.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from a hot stove, hot food, and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee can cause serious burns.
• Make sure electric cords aren’t dangling off the counter within easy reach of children or pets.
• Keep matches and utility lighters up high in a locked cabinet and out of the reach of children.
• Use battery-operated candles instead of real candles. Become familiar with candle fire safety tips.
• Test smoke alarms and maintain batteries or replace devices according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure household members know what to do when an alarm sounds.
• Review your home fire escape plan with the whole family and tell your visitors about it. Practice your home fire drill routinely.

Thanksgiving Turkey-Fryer Safety

The National Park Service describes NFPA’s warning about outdoor, gas-fueled turkey fryers. Consider having fried turkey prepared by a professional food establishment. The following risk factors explain why a household checklist should not be treated as a guarantee of safe hot-oil fryer use.

• Location matters: Hot-oil fryers can expose nearby people and combustible materials to burns and fire. Moving the equipment outdoors does not eliminate those risks.
• Oil can overflow: Adding a turkey can displace oil from the pot and bring it into contact with the burner. Do not assume that a familiar cooking method makes this hazard minor.
• Moisture creates a hazard: Water or ice contacting hot oil can cause violent splattering. This is one reason to consider professional preparation rather than trying to manage the risks at home.
• Oil can overheat: A temperature check is not a substitute for equipment suitability and safe operation. A hot-oil cooking fire can develop rapidly.
• Burns remain possible: The pot, handles and oil can stay dangerously hot. Clothing or gloves should not be treated as proof that the activity is safe.
• Plan to escape: Do not use water on burning oil or delay getting people away from danger. Call emergency services from outside if a fire occurs.

Responding to a Cooking Fire on Thanksgiving

• If it’s an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• For a stovetop fire, put a lid on it and turn off the elements. 
• If the fire is out of control, get everyone out of the house and close the door behind you to help contain it.
• Call 911 or the local emergency number from outside the home.
• If you try using the fire extinguisher, make sure others are getting out and that you have a clear path out of the home. Have someone call the fire department at the same time.

Before Thanksgiving guests arrive, discuss who will supervise cooking and how children and pets will be kept away from hot equipment. Keep serving areas separate from the active cooking space where practical. Tell visitors about household escape routes and the outside meeting place, including anyone who may need help leaving. A simple plan is easier to explain before the kitchen becomes busy.

Plan the meal around equipment that is suitable for its intended use, and read the relevant instructions in advance. Keep packaging and other combustible items away from the cooking area. Avoid improvising a cooking arrangement to accommodate extra dishes. If supervision is interrupted, pause the activity safely rather than assuming that a timer replaces the person responsible for watching it.

After a Thanksgiving cooking fire, reaching safety and contacting emergency services come before assessing property damage. Follow the fire department’s instructions about entry and utilities. When an assessment is appropriate, record visible damage only from a safe location and explain which rooms or belongings may be affected. Discuss the cleanup and repair scope with qualified professionals; a general article cannot establish when a particular home is suitable for normal use.

For Professional Fire Damage Restoration, Contact PuroClean Disaster Mitigation in Alsip!

Following these Thanksgiving fire safety tips can help you have a safe and wonderful celebration with friends and family. Yet, disasters can still occur when you least expect them. If you’ve experienced a fire, you’ll need fire damage cleanup services urgently. For professional smoke remediation and fire damage repair, contact PuroClean Disaster Mitigation at (708) 708-7876.

For background on restoration training and industry standards, visit the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Project methods should be selected for the actual conditions found during assessment.

For help with your property, contact PuroClean Disaster Mitigation at (708) 708-7876 to discuss the next assessment step.