The Firemen's Association of the State of New York is offering safety tips ahead of Thanksgiving.
In 2015 there were approximately four times as many cooking fires on Thanksgiving as there were on a normal day, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The NFPA also said in 2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,570 home cooking fires on the holiday.
FASNY said the most common factors in home cooking fires are the following:
- Unattended cooking
- Objects near cooking catching fire
- Cooking equipment unintentionally turned on or not turned off
- Deep-frying turkeys
- Hot cooking oil exposed to water or outdoor elements
To avoid injury this Thanksgiving, FASNY says to do the following:
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short 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 yourself that you are cooking, as guests, phones, children, pets and other activity can easily distract a cook
- Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves as loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners or gas flames and catch fire. Keep the cooking area clean and combustible materials away from your stove top: built-up grease as well as oven mitts, food packaging, wooden utensils, towels, curtains and other materials on or near the stove can catch fire
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop
- Make sure turkeys are defrosted before deep frying
More information can be found at the NFPA's website
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