Safe cooking during the Thanksgiving holiday
Story By: Andy Koen
Source: KOAA
43 day(s) ago
Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires on Thanksgiving Day - nearly double the number on most other days, and the Colorado Springs Fire Department wants to make sure you stay safe this holiday season.
They encourage taking the following precautions to keep you home and family safe this year:
Avoid a holiday kitchen fire:
- Always stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food.
- If you leave the kitchen while using an oven or stove make sure it’s turned off.
- When baking or roasting, regularly check on the food and remain home. Use a timer as a reminder to check the food.
- Keep kids away from the stove. Enforce a 3 foot “kid-free” zone.
- Whenever possible use back burners if kids are present. Turn pot handles inward.
- Never hold a small child while cooking.
- Move pot holders, oven mitts, utensils, food wrappers, and packaging away from stove tops.
About Turkey Fryers:
The National Fire Protection Association discourages residential use of turkey fryers due to the risk of injury. Outdoor fryers heat gallons of cooking oil to very high temperatures and the risk of oil spilling is significant; resulting in severe burns.
- Fryer oil is heated to temperatures where vapors can ignite and cause a fire.
- If used in rain or snow, the risk of injury is increased when moisture hits hot oil, causing it to splash or turn to steam, resulting in burns.
- Fires have been reported when fryers were moved indoors or into a garage to avoid inclement weather.
- Transferring the turkey from fryer to serving plate presents another chance for burns.
Smoke and CO Alarms
- Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working and have a good battery.
- Share your home evacuation plan with overnight guests
