Thanksgiving Safety Tips to Prevent Kitchen and House Fires

The turkey is thawed, the cranberry relish ingredients are ready to mix -- you're all set to start cooking a Thanksgiving feast, right?

Not so fast. Is there a working fire extinguisher close to the stove? Have you removed clutter and holiday decorations from the kitchen?

Millions of Americans will be preparing meals and traveling throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 

According to federal authorities, cooking is the leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings at 69 percent. Nearly all of these cooking fires (97 percent) are small, confined fires with limited damage.

The American Red Cross has safety tips for the kitchen and for the highway.

“More home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year,” said Mary Young , CEO, American Red Cross, Metro New York North. 

Cooking Safety

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and related injuries. Follow these safety tips:

·  Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the cooking area.

·  Clean all cooking surfaces to prevent grease buildup.

·  Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn burners off if leaving the kitchen.

·  Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire.

·  Place turkey fryers outside and away from the house, deck and garage.

Holiday Safety

And while these safety tips may not make Thanksgiving dinner taste any better, they will help to avoid potential disaster:

• Keep your family and overnight guests safe with a working smoke alarm on every level of the house, in each bedroom and in the halls adjacent to the bedrooms. Test smoke alarms monthly, and replace batteries at least once a year.
• Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room.
• A standard Class ABC multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher is recommended. Know how to use your fire extinguisher.