Practice fire safety this Thanksgiving

Published Nov. 13, 2013
By Paul Kempton Jr.
375th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Thanksgiving is a holiday that brings friends and family together to share good conversation, laughter and a good meal, but Thanksgiving also comes with an increased risk of a fire.

The number of fires that occur on Thanksgiving Day is more than double the number of fires on an average day and cooking is by far the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day residential fires. As such, the Scott Air Force Base Fire Department is urging everyone to keep safety in mind when preparing holiday meals. The leading factor in the ignition of residential cooking fires is food left unattended on the stove or in the oven. Every year on Thanksgiving Day, more than 4,000 fires occur in homes across the country.

Here are a few fire safety tips from Scott AFB Fire Department:

· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.

· If you must leave the home for even a short period of time, turn off the stove and oven.

· If you are simmering, baking, boiling or roasting food, check it regularly and remain in the home while food is cooking. Use a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on.

· Stay alert. Don't cook if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.

· Keep things that burn, like pot holders, oven mitts, paper or plastic, off the stovetop.

· If you plan to use a turkey fryer this holiday season, please follow manufacturer guidelines.

· Don't store things that can burn in an oven, microwave, or toaster oven.

· Clean food and grease off burners, stovetops and ovens.

· Wear clothing with sleeves that are short, close fitting, or tightly rolled up.

· Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of three feet around the stove.

· Use the stove's back burners whenever possible, and turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots with hot contents will be knocked over.

· Never hold a small child while cooking.

In addition, here are a few tips for using turkey fryers:

· Fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot oil.

· If fryers are overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed in the fryer allowing oil to spill on the burner/flames causing the entire unit to become engulfed in fire.

· Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can also cause oil spillage. This too, can result in an extensive fire.

· Fryers don't have thermostat controls; the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion is possible.

· Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors no closer than 15 feet to a building or any other material that can burn.

· Do not use turkey fryers on decks or in garages; keep them at least 15 feet from any structure.

· Do not leave the fryer unattended.

· Do not allow children or pets near the fryer. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

· Use insulated potholders or oven mitts when handling the pot or lid handles.

· Only place completely thawed turkeys into the pot and be careful with marinades.

· Ensure an all-purpose fire extinguisher is nearby. Do not use water to extinguish grease fires. Use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire; only fight fires if you have a safe egress route.

· Finally, ensure you have a working smoke detector installed on every level and in every sleeping area of your home. Keep them clean, test them monthly and keep them equipped with fresh batteries at least twice a year. Establish at least two escape routes from each room, and have the whole family agree on a place to meet outside. Remember to practice your home escape plan.

As a reminder, if an emergency occurs, call 911. Even report fires that have been extinguished.