Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather and celebrate with family and friends, but also the peak day for fire-related injuries and incidents at homes across the United States, especially cooking fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. Fire Departments on Thanksgiving Day in 2022, a 399% increase over the daily average.
With electrical outlets overloaded by visitors and appliances, candles burning, and children and pets in close proximity to hot stoves and turkey fryers, it’s important to be aware of the many safety concerns on this special holiday and take precautions to prevent mishaps and fire concerns.
Enjoy an incident-free holiday with these Thanksgiving Day safety reminders:
Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop to keep an eye on the food and heat, and frequently check on items cooking in ovens. Place potholders and plate warmers away from hot stove tops.
When cooking, keep the handles on pots and pans turned away from your body to prevent bumps and accidental knock-overs.
Place turkey fryers in an open area away from all walls, fences, or other structures. The intense heat and oil splatter could cause structures to become burnt or catch fire.
Check the oil temperature in turkey fryers frequently and make certain it doesn’t increase past the recommended temperature. Turn the fryer’s gas supply off if the oil begins to smoke.
Never leave children or pets alone in a room with a lit candle to avoid little hands and paws from becoming burnt or accidentally knocking over candles and flames. Also keep lit candles at least 12” away from flammable items like paper, clothes and tablecloths.
Keep children away from hot foods and liquids. Serious burns can be caused simply from the steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee. Children should also stay at least 3’ away from hot stoves.
Have activities for children that keep them away from kitchens and hot items. Kids can help with your Thanksgiving Day preparations in rooms outside of the kitchen, and plan games, puzzles or other activities to keep them engaged and out of harm’s way.
Don’t leave computers and other electronics with lithium-ion batteries on beds or upholstered furniture, and ensure they are using their manufactured recommended cords for charging.
Don’t overload electrical outlets and make certain electric cords from appliances and electronics are not frayed or damaged. Any electric cords from coffee makers, electric knives, plater warmers and other appliances should be kept out of the reach of children or pets, and not dangling.
Test smoke alarms before guests arrive to make certain they are working properly.
If a kitchen fire or turkey fryer fire occurs, immediately call 911. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire with water.
DON’T DIY ITEMS AFFECTED BY FIRE OR SMOKE DAMAGE
If you experience fire damage or smoke damage to your home or business this Thanksgiving, don’t attempt to provide fire mitigation services yourself. Using over-the-counter products and improper cleaning methods will cause the soot damage to permanently “set” on a variety of surfaces, materials and belongings. This will make the cleanup efforts more costly and cause certain items to become unsalvageable.
ServiceMaster By Mason is available 24/7/365, including holidays, to assist you when fire or smoke damage occurs at your home or business. Learn more about our fire & smoke cleanup and restoration services and how we can assist with issues big and small.
*source: National Fire Protection Association
