When you think about Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? Is it fire and destruction? Heck no, you’re thinking about yummy foods, good times and special people.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the number of reported residential fires more than doubles. This leads to an increased risk of injury, fatalities and monetary damage or loss of property.
Did you know that Texas has historically been responsible for the majority of Thanksgiving cooking insurance claims? Come on Texans, let’s work on this.
What is the cause of most of these residential Thanksgiving Day fires? Cooking! An eye-popping 74% of all Thanksgiving Day fires are caused by cooking. Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires.
Nearly all of these fires are small and confined with limited damage. Electrical malfunction, carelessness and open flames are the leading causes that allow these types of fires to spread. No smoke alarms were present in 20% of these instances where a fire was able to spread.
Over half of Thanksgiving Day fires occur between 10 am – 5 pm, with a peak at 1 pm. This makes sense because this is when preparing dinner.
You pour your hard work, love and money into maintaining your home, so we want to make certain you are able to protect it. Especially during a chaotic time like Thanksgiving. So how can ensure that all of you beautiful people make it through this safe and sound? Below is a Top 10 list from FEMA to help prevent fires this holiday season:
- Stand by your pan. If you leave your kitchen, turn the burner off.
- Keep an eye on what you fry! Most cooking fires start when frying food.
- Roll up your sleeves. This reduces the chance that they’ll catch fire.
- Supervise children and pets. Make sure they stay away from the stove.
- Watch what you’re cooking! If you see any smoke, or grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
- If there’s an oven fire, keep the door closed. Turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it’s cool.
- Move things that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. This is so no one can bump them or pull them over.
- Only use a turkey fryer outdoors. Make sure that it the fryer is on a sturdy surface, away from things that can burn.
- Check smoke alarms. Make sure to have working smoke alarms close to where anyone may be sleeping.
Deep Fried Turkey
Of course we know the deep fried turkey is quickly becoming a holiday favorite. Heed caution, improper use, or an over loaded fryer can easily top over and set fire to your entire house. Thanksgiving would be ruined. Protect your valued investment (your house), as well as loved ones with some helpful tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:
- Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.
- Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
- Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
- Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
- Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.
- To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
- Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
- The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.
- Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.
Still want that deep fried turkey this holiday season? Perhaps consider purchasing it from a great local restaurant or buy a fryer that does not use oil.
Megan & Michael Bradshaw – your Realtors of Denton, Texas.
