Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks and reflection with our family and friends. We at the MVFC love Thanksgiving as much as you do, but we don't want to crash your Thanksgiving dinner. As you throw the turkey in the oven, whip the mashed potatoes, and mix up the pumpkin pie, remember these safety tips to keep us out of your kitchen.
Thanksgiving by the numbers (Source: NFPA's Fire Analysis & Research Division)
Thanksgiving by the numbers (Source: NFPA's Fire Analysis & Research Division)
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
- In 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,760 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires.
- Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
- Cooking equipment was involved in almost half (48%) of all reported home fires and civilian and tied with heating equipment for the second leading cause of home fire deaths.
Safety tips
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
- Keep a fire extinguisher and baking soda available to put out small fires.
- Never try to extinguish a grease fire with water. Use baking soda or cover the pan with a lid.