Thanksgiving Day is the number-one day for home fires. According to the US Fire Administration, the number of residential fires on Thanksgiving Day was more than double the average number of fires on all other days.
Baking, frying, candles, fireplaces, space heaters and electrical decorations all add up to an increased fire danger during the entire holiday season.
The Peoria Fire-Medical Department is reminding the public to follow some simple tips to stay safe during this Thanksgiving Holiday.
•Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, check to see if it is charged before the big day.
•Make sure your oven and cooking area are clean and free of grease before you start cooking. Keep flammable materials and decorations at least 3 feet away from the stove.
•Keep the kitchen off-limits to young children and cook on the back burners when possible. Turn pot handles in so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.
•Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food. If you are baking or roasting food, check it regularly.
• Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home or asleep.
•Make sure you have working smoke alarms on all levels of your home.
Deep Frying Tips
•Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area. Make sure the fryer is set up on level ground.
•Do not overfill the fryer with oil; this will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in.
•A frozen or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when put in the pot and even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
•Never Leave hot oil unattended and keep fryer at least 30 feet away from structures, trees, or flammable materials.