CAMARILLO — With shopping and preparations underway for Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends, the Ventura County Fire Department reminds everyone to practice fire safety in the kitchen when the cooking starts.
Cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day fires, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Data Center. Also, the National Fire Protection Association reports that two thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
“Kitchens can get busy and distracting when family and friends gather for big, holiday meals,” Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. “The extra hustle and bustle add to the risk of a mistake that can ruin more than a celebration. We want you and your family to enjoy the holiday safely.”
To avoid a real kitchen catastrophe, please keep in mind the following tips:
- Check your food regularly whenever you cook and use a timer to remind you.
- Turn handles on pots and pans away from the front of the stove where they are less likely to get bumped.
- Keep children away from hot stoves, foods or liquids.
- Keep the floor clear to avoid tripping hazards.
- Keep appliance cords from dangling off countertops where they can get snagged.
- Have working smoke alarms in your home and test them.
- Have a lid handy to smother small grease fires.
- Keep a fire extinguisher close by for bigger ones.
- Be prepared to call 9-1-1 on any fire.If you use a turkey fryer:
- Use the fryer outdoors in an open area away from your home.
- Follow the directions for using the right amount of oil.
- Make sure the turkey is fully thawed.We teamed up with Impossible Science to show how to fry a turkey safely and what can happen if you don’t in this video.
For more holiday safety tips visit our website.