Thanksgiving Day means something for everyone. For the fire service, it means more property damage and lives lost than any other day of the year. Most of the damage is due to cooking fires in family homes.
"An estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire department each year and cause an estimated average of 5 deaths, 25 injuries, and $121 million in property loss," according to the Fairfax County Fire Department.
Turkey fryer fires are to blame for many recent fires. The following safe cooking tips can help to make your holiday safer:
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- Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying or grilling food. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.
- Keep anything that can catch fire--potholders, towels, or curtains away from the stovetop.
- Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove.
- Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when cooking.
- When placing the turkey into the oven or turkey fryer, be extremely careful.
So, want a fried turkey? You might think about buying one instead of burning the house down. In fact, supermarkets and restaurants accept orders for fried turkeys during the holiday season.
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