Holiday Fire Safety
11/16/2021 (Permalink)
Did you know that house fires during the holiday season are more frequent, more costly, and more deadly than at any other time of the year?
Don't let your holidays go up in smoke! Make sure you are taking the necessary precautions before cooking your bird for the holidays.
Whether it is fried or baked, turkey is always a staple of many family holiday feasts across the nation. Almost always it is the centerpiece of a home cooked meal made with love and lots of preparation. It is vital to make sure when preparing to cook your delicious bird, that you take caution of the necessary steps of cooking to prevent a house fire. Cooking is the number one cause of residential fires in the United States. We do not want your family to be added to the list this year to become an unfortunate statistic. First and foremost, it is very important to invest in a few fire extinguishers and keep them easily accessible in your kitchen. Maybe under the kitchen sink in the cabinet, or in your pantry. While the hope is that the turkey does NOT catch fire, we want to make sure that you are prepared if it does. Shopping for things like fire extinguishers can be overwhelming. Check out this blog on picking a fire extinguisher to help you learn what you will need. Not sure where to get one? Visit your local Lowe’s or Home Depot to find exactly what you need! If you are unsure when and how to use a fire extinguisher, check out our blog on exactly how to.
In order to avoid the tragedy, you want to be sure to never leave your stove unattended and keep loose fabric away from burners. Things like your kitchen towels, oven mitts, paper towels, or even a bag/purse away from the stove. It is also important to know that you should never fry your turkey indoors under any circumstance.
Frying turkeys has become an increasingly popular method of cooking and along with it comes an increased risk for fire. Here are some tips for how to safely fry your bird:
- Always be sure to fry your turkey outside.
- Place your fryer on a stable, level surface.
- Make sure the fryer is far away from flammable items and your home.
- Make sure your turkey is completely thawed before frying.
- Check the temperature of the oil often to prevent overheating.
For more tips on how to safely fry a turkey, visit the US Fire Administration website, by CLICKING HERE.
It is our hope that taking these measures will completely prevent a kitchen fire from occurring in your home this holiday season, but if it does, SERVPRO of Mobile County will be glad to help in any way possible to help you pick up the pieces and get your kitchen back to its original glory. "Like it never even happened."