The best remedy for fire damage is to take steps to prevent a fire from starting. By taking a few common-sense precautions, you can spend Thanksgiving holiday savoring the aroma of roasting turkey and apple pie, not dealing with the smoke and damage from a kitchen fire.
Watch What You Heat:
• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking, so stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• When you simmer, bake, roast or boil food, check it regularly. Don’t leave your home while food is cooking and set a timer to remind yourself that you have something on the stove or in the oven.
• Stay alert! Too little sleep, some medicines and alcohol consumption can all make you drowsy and less able to concentrate on safety.
Keep Flammable Things and Heat Sources Apart:
• Oven mitts, potholders, wooden utensils, food packaging, paper or plastic bags, towels, curtains – the list of flammable things you’ll find in any kitchen goes on and on. Keep things that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
• Cleanliness counts! Clean up spills, grease, etc., as they happen or as soon as possible when the stovetop or oven is cool. Help prevent spills by keeping your pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops and by keeping children a safe distance away from stovetops and prep areas.
• Dress thoughtfully. Long sleeves, scarves, and loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.
Make kitchen safety a priority every day, but especially during the holiday season when entertaining and family events mean more time spend cooking and preparing food. It’s tempting to take shortcuts when the pressure of the holidays mounts, but a fire will take a much greater toll not just in time but in possible injury, damage and repairs.
If a cooking fire does break out, the NFPA offers this advice:
• 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 after you leave.
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Have a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season
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