Thoughts Before Thanksgiving: Stove Safety Tips

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

"Faster To Any Size Disaster."

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is good to remember that Thanksgiving Day is the peak day of the year for house fires. It is easy to forget about that magnificent turkey in the oven while you are juggling kids, cleaning the house, setting the table, or greeting guests. Here are five safety tips to keep in mind while in the kitchen this Thanksgiving!

1. Keep Your Eye On The Prize
Try to avoid leaving the kitchen while you are cooking. A stovetop fire could be noticed, prevented, or quickly extinguished if you are present as soon as the fire starts. Being able to respond rapidly to a fire emergency can not only limit the extent of the damage to your home, but it also could save you or your relatives.

2. Keep Children & Dangerous Items Away
At all times, keep pets and children at least 3 feet away from the stove. Anything flammable such as fabric potholders, towels, rags, or paper wrappings, should be stored away from heat. Turning all of the handles on your kitchen pans inward while cooking will help prevent children from knocking the pans off the stove and onto themselves or the floor.

3. Know Your Limits
Many kitchen fires start when the cooking oil catches fire in the pan. While some electric range burners can reach exceedingly high temperatures, cooking oils can ignite when heated past 700 degrees Fahrenheit. To smother an oil fire, turn the knob to cut off the heat source, and put a lid over the fire. Removing the pan lid ahead of time can save precious time in the event of a fire.

4. Invest In A Kitchen Blanket
A kitchen blanket would be a practical and inexpensive asset to keep in your kitchen! In the event of a skillet fire, cover the skillet with this fabric to safely smother it! Better quality kitchen blankets contain the same material used in protective gear for firemen. They are lightweight and long-lasting. As the blanket smothers the fire, it also cools the flames by letting hot vapors pass through it. For the inexperienced, these blankets are safer to use than a fire extinguisher!

5. Call Emergency Responders & Prepare A Fire Escape Plan
Fire suppression is better off left up to the pros to handle. With cabinetry and other flammable items in kitchens, even smaller fires can rapidly grow out of control. In these situations, it is crucial to have a fire escape plan. Once you have evacuated your home, call the fire department. If it is a small, contained fire, use a fire extinguisher. However, if the fire grows, it should be left to the fire department to handle.

Don’t let that turkey get the best of you this Thanksgiving! Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property from potential fires this holiday season!

Remember SERVPRO of Jackson/Crockett County! We’re “Here To Help” whenever you need us! Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!