The heart of Thanksgiving lies in cooking a bounty of food to enjoy with family and friends. As we get ready to celebrate the holiday, we also need to stay alert as Thanksgiving has been reported as having the highest number of cooking fires of the year. Here are 7 ways you can help reduce your chances of a Thanksgiving mishap!

Turkey Frying

• Keep fryers away from all buildings and any flammable materials.

• Never use on wooden decks or in garages

• Do not overfill fryer

• Use well-insulated potholders when touching the lid or pot. Use safety goggles to help protect your eyes in case of splatter

• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in the event of a fire

Social Media Break

• Do not announce travel plans. Burglars can easily use this to identify unoccupied properties

Watched Pots may never Boil… but at least they won’t burn!

• Unattended cooking accounts for the majority of kitchen fires. Never walk away from stoves or appliances while in use. Enlist others to watch the kitchen if you need to step away. Set timers so you know when to check food items.

Check your Detectors

• CO & Smoke alarms should be tested semi-annually; however we suggest always testing it before holidays that are centered around cooking as well.

Decorate Safely

• All decorations should be clear of walkways.

• Do not use candles near flammable material and never leave them unattended (we suggest switching to flame-less candles)

Clear the Counter

• Keep flammable items clear of all hot cooking areas. Food Boxes, garbage and other miscellaneous items can easily catch fire if close to heat sources.

Fire Extinguishers

• Have an all-purpose fire extinguisher ready at all times. NEVER use water on a grease fire.

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