LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Thanksgiving is a busy day for firefighters as their calls for kitchen fires skyrocket because of Thanksgiving meal preparations. Here are five simple tips to help keep you and your family safe. The National Fire Protection Association says on a typical day there are about 400 home cooking fire calls nationally. On Thanksgiving day that number shoots up to about 1,300.
1. Extinguish
It's always best to have an extinguisher handy in the kitchen in case the worst happens. Now there are aerosol cans that look like hair spray that can put out the fire instead of needing a large extinguisher.
2. Close the door
If you have flames flare up in your oven or even in your house the best advice is to close the door. That will help smother the fire in either case. If the flare up is in the oven make sure to turn off the heat source as well.
3. Fry with caution
Frying the Thanksgiving bird has become a popular trend. If you're going to go down that path make sure you keep the fryer at least 10 feet from any building and also there shouldn't be a story above the fryer. The turkey should be completely thawed as well. And the oil should only be filled to the suggested line.
4. No kids
Tim Szymanski with Las Vegas Fire says kids shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen during Thanksgiving preparations. It's too hectic of a situation and in many cases all burners are going on the stove. Szymanski says kids can often accidentally cause a fire because they don't know the dangers of the treats on the stove top.
5. Your attendance is necessary
Don't leave anything you're cooking unattended. A large number of fires are caused by people leaving food on the stove. Some leave the house, others take a quick shower, and some just go to another room for a second. No matter how long, it can lead to a fire that can quickly spread and take down your whole house. Nobody likes blackened turkey.
Happy holidays!
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