Fire safety tips for the Thanksgiving holiday Published Nov. 22, 2013 By 341st Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Prevention Office staff MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- According to the Malmstrom Fire Prevention Office staff, an estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated average of five deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property loss. The leading category of factors contributing to ignition of non-confined Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings is the "misuse of materials or products" (35 percent). Within this category, heat source too close to combustible materials and abandoned or discarded materials account for 14 percent and 9 percent of all non-confined Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings, respectively. No smoke alarms were present in 20 percent of non-confined Thanksgiving Day fires in occupied residential buildings. The Malmstrom Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services Team urge the base populace to keep fire safety in mind while preparing holiday meals. Below are a few fire safety tips: · Stay in the kitchen when 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 children 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 of pots being 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 (commonly 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 happy Thanksgiving. Anyone needing additional fire safety information should call 731-4836 or 731-4100. Information from this article was taken from www.usfa.fema.gov/ and www.nfpa.org.