Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

For many people Thanksgiving means bringing family and friends together with cooking. But did you know that the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking? Here are some safety tips to ensure fire safety in the kitchen while you enjoy your Thanksgiving plans, according to the NFPA:

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop. 
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. 
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. 
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. 

If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire... 

• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. 
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. 

If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire… 

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. 
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home.

If fire or smoke damage has impacted your home or business, please call SERVPRO of Licking County at 740-587-0938. Let our professional team do the cleanup with the proper procedures to keep you, your home or company safe.

Source: https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Safety-tip-sheets/CookingSafety.ashx