The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is calling on cooks to include fire safety in their recipes, because Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires. U.S. firefighters responded to approximately 1,300 home fires involving cooking equipment on Thanksgiving in 2007, roughly three times the daily average of cooking fires. Incorporating fire safety into your holiday preparations can mean the difference
between putting on a fantastic holiday feast for family and friends and having to call the Fire Department to put out a fire.
Here are some known facts from recent Thanksgivings:
- Cooking equipment was involved in 40 percent of all reported home fires, 17 percent of home fire deaths, 36 percent of home civilian injuries, and 12 percent of the direct property damage resulting from home fires.
- Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires. Something that could catch fire was too close to the equipment ranked second and unintentionally turned on or not turned off ranked third.
- 57 percent of reported home cooking fire injuries occurred when victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends the following cooking safety tips:
Cook with Caution
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop.
- 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 home 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.
If you have a cooking fire….
- Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
- If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
- When in doubt, just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.