NC Firefighters Museum Stresses Safety This Thanksgiving

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Those fires tend to increase on the holidays traditionally associated with home cooking, such as Thanksgiving.

Addressing the added home fire risk, the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center provides safety guidelines just in time for Thanksgiving cooks to minimize those dangers.

According to the NFPA, in 2010, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,400 home structure fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments. These fires caused 410 deaths, 5,310 injuries and $993 million in direct property damage.

“Every Thanksgiving, we see a spike in the number of cooking fires. Thankfully these tragedies can be avoided if folks just follow a few safety guidelines while cooking in the kitchen,” said Chief John V. Murray, chief safety instructor for the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center.

Safety Tips

·         Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.

·         Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of 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.

·         Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, food packaging, towels, curtains or wooden utensils — away from your stovetop.

·         Do not wear loose fitting clothing such as dangling sleeves while cooking.

·         The NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil.

If you have a cooking fire:

·         Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

·         Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

·         Do not use water to put out a grease fire. Use an appropriate fire extinguisher, or baking soda, salt or a tight lid. Keep the lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. Always keep a box of baking soda near the stove.

Courtesy of the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center