While our gatherings might be scaling back this year due to health restrictions, we will still prepare and cook for our Thanksgiving dinner. And safety is still more important than ever, especially when it comes to kitchen fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in the U.S., with over 1,600 home cooking fire incidents on Thanksgiving Day in 2019.
Here are some important reminders to help protect your family and your property from kitchen fires:
1. Prep and Clean Your Equipment.
Before you get excited about preparing any part of your Thanksgiving dinner, deep clean your oven, cooking appliances, and other equipment so they'll be free of crumbs or grease, especially if you’ve been cooking frequently. Also, make sure they are in good working condition before you use them.
2. Don’t Overload Your Outlets.
Overloading wall outlets or power strips, especially if you're using all of your kitchen appliances at once, is another recipe for electrical fire. The NFPA recommends using only one cord per receptacle outlet, so make sure you space things out. Also, look out for any frayed cords or bare wires, which could also present a fire hazard.
3. Make Sure Your Smoke Detectors and Alarms Are Working.
Before you turn on the stove to boil the potatoes or fire up the oven to bake some of the pies, check all of your smoke detectors and alarms, even those not near the kitchen. Test each device and replace the batteries of those that are no longer working properly. By ensuring your smoke alarms are working properly, any potential fire hazard can be caught before flames break out.
4. Have Your Fireplace Cleaned and Inspected.
If you haven't done it yet, have your chimney cleaned to avoid any buildup that could cause fire when you light it up? Also, make sure you don’t keep anything flammable anywhere near the fireplace.
5. Never Leave the Kitchen Unattended While You’re Cooking.
6. Keep Flammable Objects Away From the Stove, Oven, and Any Other Hot Surfaces.
If you are using candles to add ambiance to your table setting, remember to keep them away from flammable objects, kids, and pets at all times, and never leave them unattended.
7. Have a Fire Extinguisher Nearby.
Happy Thanksgiving!
