Thanksgiving Fire Safety

11/18/2019 (Permalink)

Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. Sometimes there are multiple people in the kitchen taking part in the preparations of multiple dishes. It can be hectic and dangerous, so keeping fire safety in mind is important!

Look at the Facts:

• According to the NFPA, in 2014, nearly four times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day.
• And, in the same year U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,730 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires.
• Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
• Cooking equipment was involved in almost half (48%) of all reported home fires and civilian and tied with heating equipment for the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

Safety Tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

For more information, please visit http://www.SERVPROrichmond.com/  to see what SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico County can do to help if disaster strikes. We are available for 24-hour emergency fire and water services.

Info provided by: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/wildfire-and-seasonal-fires/thanksgiving-safety