Stand By Your Pan This Thanksgiving!

It is that time of the year again when family and friends gather to celebrate, eat, drink, and be merry. Likewise, it is also the time of year where everyone is practicing to maybe be the next Iron Chef. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking fires are more likely on Thanksgiving than any other day.

With the last sentence in mind, I would like to offer all of you out there some information that you might find useful not only for Thanksgiving this week but for all of the various holidays and observances over the next several weeks.

“Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a rookie cooking your first holiday feast, the strategies for serving up a safe meal are the same,” said Chief Bowers. “Unattending cooking is the leading cause of residential fires and we’re asking residents to follow these simple safety tips and to have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.”

Cooking Fires Life-Saving Tips:

• Be alert! Always keep your eyes on what’s cooking.

• If a fire breaks out while cooking, put a lid on the pan to smother it. Never throw water on a
grease fire.

• Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup which can ignite.

• Always wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the kitchen while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from your stovetop.

• Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all other appliances are turned off.

• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change the batteries annually.

Turkey fryers are becoming an increasingly popular choice to cook the Thanksgiving turkey and can be extremely dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. If your plans include using a turkey fryer, fire department officals urge residents to follow all manufacturer directions closely and to review the following safety tips:

Safety Tips:

· Many units easily tip over, spilling the hot oil within the cooking pot.

· A small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire.

· Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials.

· Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage or enclosed space.

· Do not overfill the fryer.

· If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.

· Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.

· With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion. Never leave the tryer unattended.

· The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

· Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours.

· Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer.

Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates and reduce injuries dramatically.  For more information about the department’s fire safety programs or to request a free home safety evaluation or smoke alarm check, please contact the County’s non-emergency call center at 311.