Get prepared for Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are some tips from PropertyCasualty 360 to help mitigate the risk of a fire this Thanksgiving holiday:

• Stay near the food while you are cooking on the stovetop.  If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove burners.
• Most cooking fires start while frying food, so keep an extra close eye on those dishes as they cook.
• Roll up your sleeves while you cook to reduce the chance of them catching fire.
• Keep an eye on children and pets to make sure they stay away from the stove.
• If you see any smoke or grease boiling while cooking, immediately turn the burner off.
• If you have an oven fire, keep the door closed and turn off the oven.  Keep the oven door closed until it has fully cooled.
• Move flammable items – like dishtowels and curtains – away from the stove before you begin cooking.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to keep people from accidently running into them and knocking them off the stove or tipping them over.
• Turkey fryers should only be used outdoors.  They should also be placed on a level, sturdy surface away from flammable materials.
• Check your smoke alarms to make sure they are functioning properly before you begin cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

If you experience a cooking fire, the NFPA recommends the following:

• Quickly get out of the building and close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you attempt to put out the fire, make sure you have a clear way out of the building if you need to flee.
• Keep pot lids near the range in case you experience a small grease fire. If you choose to fight the fire, you should turn off the burner, slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames and leave it covered until it has completely cooled.

Stay safe and enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family.