Some Thanksgiving fire safety tips

  • Published
  • By 341st Civil Engineer Squadron
  • Fire Prevention Office Staff
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The number of home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day was three times the national average of fires per day in 2009 according the National Fire Protection Association.

Unattended food is the leading factor in the ignition of residential cooking fires. Each year, nearly one third of the fires in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day are residential, resulting in an average of 15 lost lives, 41 injured and $21 million in damages.

Malmstrom Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services team urge Airmen to keep fire safety in mind when preparing holiday meals.

Here are a few fire safety tips:

- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
- If leaving home, for even a short period of time, turn off the stove or oven.
- Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
- Stay alert; Airmen shouldn't cook if they are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol or have taken medicine that makes them drowsy.
- Keep things that burn off of the stovetop.
- If planning to use a turkey fryer, follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
- Don't store flammable items in an oven, microwave or toaster oven.
- Clean food and grease off burners, stovetops and ovens.
- Wear tops with sleeves that are short, close fitting or tightly rolled up.
- Keep kids away from cooking areas - enforce a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove.
- Use the stove's back burners whenever possible and turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots will be knocked over.
- Never hold a small child while cooking.

In addition, here are a few informational tips for using turkey fryers:

- Oil in fryers is highly combustible: if spilled (common by overfilling) onto a heating element, the entire unit may easily become engulfed in flames.
- As most fryers don't have thermostat controls, be vigilant about not overheating the oil to avoid combustion.
- Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors, no closer than 15 feet to a building or any material that can burn; do not use turkey fryers on decks or in garages.
- Do not leave the fryer unattended.
- Do not allow children or pets near the fryer.
- The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, even hours after use.
- Use insulated potholders or oven mitts when handling the pot or lid handles.
- Only place completely thawed turkeys into the pot.
- Ensure an all-purpose fire extinguisher is nearby; do not use water to extinguish grease fires.
- Use best judgment when attempting to fight a fire and only fight fires if a safe egress route has been established.

As a reminder, if an emergency occurs call 9-1-1. Provide the dispatcher with the nature of the emergency, location of the emergency, and a name and call-back number. Report fires even if they have been extinguished.

The Malmstrom Fire and Emergency Services team wishes everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season and anyone needing additional fire safety information should call 731-4836, 731-4100 or 731-4098.