Cooking Safety Tips From Fairfax County Fire On Thanksgiving

FAIRFAX, VA — Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue is offering cooking safety tips so your meal can go smoothly. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking-related fires in homes. In 2017, there were 1,600 reported home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, a 238 percent increase over the daily average.

"Fortunately, the vast majority of cooking fires are highly preventable with a little added awareness, and by taking simple steps to minimize those risks," said Lorraine Carli, president of outreach and advocacy for the National Fire Protection Association.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue suggests these tips when cooking the Thanksgiving feast:

• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. Long loose sleeves are more likely to catch on fire or get caught on pot handles.
• Keep things that can catch fire such as dish towels, curtains, or paper, at least three feet away from the stove.
• Do not leave cooking food unattended. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• Turn pot handles inward, facing the wall to prevent burns caused by overturning or spills.
• Pot holders or oven mitts prevent burns when handling hot dishes.
• Regularly clean your cooking equipment so that there are no cooking materials, food items or grease accumulation.
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing. Have the oven serviced before you use it again.
• Make sure the smoke alarms in your home are working. Test them by pushing the test button. Also make sure you have a home fire escape plan in case of fire.

The fire department also recommends caution when using a turkey fryer, which can lead to severe burns, injuries and property damage. Fire officials usually urge residents to avoid turkey fryers, but if you are using one, cook outside and away from your home. The turkey should be dried and thawed before cooking. To avoid oil spilling and causing injury, ensure the oil isn't overfilled in the fryer. If oil begins to smoke, turn the gas supply off immediately.