Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips

AAA projects that 54.3 million Americans will drive more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving, and 116 million will participate in black-Friday shopping, according to a CNN report. Another statistic that is less known is that more house fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. With so much going on, it’s no wonder. Don’t let your gathering be ruined by a fire. Here are some Thanksgiving holiday fire safety tips to make sure oversharing is the worst thing that happens around the table this year.

Be Prepared

The first step in keeping your family safe is making sure that you know when they are in danger. This Thanksgiving, check the batteries in your smoke alarms. It’s a simple task that can save lives, catching a dangerous situation before it becomes deadly.

Beyond early warnings, preparing your kitchen for the holiday can prevent accidents from happening. The kitchen will be busy, often with people who aren’t familiar with the cooking equipment. Here are a few things you can do to keep the kitchen safe:

• Make sure pot handles are turned in to the stove so they can’t be knocked off.
• Clean cooking surfaces of grease and residue that could start a fire.
• Keep cords out of the way of heating elements and water, as well as food prep areas.

When it gets busy and there are too many cooks in the kitchen, you will be glad it is organized and hazard-free. Simply being mindful and keeping the chaos relatively organized can prevent fires and injuries this holiday season.

Let’s Talk Turkey

The centerpiece of this festive meal is also the most likely to cause a fire. When roasting a turkey, the sheer amount of time and the grease from the bird are huge fire hazards. Turkeys that are forgotten or cooked at too high of a temperature can be fire starters. Since Minnesota is the top producer of Turkeys in the country, there will be plenty of opportunities for fires to start this holiday season.

Deep-frying a turkey is a delicious (and quick) way to prepare your holiday meal. It can also be one of the most dangerous activities done on Thanksgiving. A couple of things to think about when deep-frying a turkey are:

• Always completely thaw the turkey. Frozen turkeys react with the oil and cause the oil to jump out of the pot.
• Do not overfill the pot, this is the most common mistake when deep-frying a turkey.
• Always deep-fry outside on a flat, concrete surface. Never on a wooden deck.
• Keep the propane as far away from the burner as possible while deep-frying.

Follow these safety tips for a crispy, juicy turkey with non of the explosive side effects.

Pay Attention

Distractions are everywhere during the holidays, and it is easy to lose track of time. Unattended turkeys, gravies and other foods will catch on fire. Being attentive around open flames, high heat and greasy food make all the difference. Don’t let a house fire ruin your gathering, pay attention and follow a few basic safety rules to ensure you and your family are safe. For more Thanksgiving holiday fire safety tips or for any other fire safety questions, contact the Maple Plain Fire Department at 763-479-0520.