How to Avoid Thanksgiving Fires

ffrfIn this time of gratitude, we give thanks for you, our customers and friends. We value your patronage and appreciate your loyalty and confidence in ServiceMaster Cobb of Cartersville, GA and ServiceMaster Cleaning & Restoration of Chattanooga, TN.

The entire team at ServiceMaster of Cobb would like to wish you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. May you be safe and joyful during the holiday season.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment. In fact, in 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,760 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving. With proper planning and a cautious eye, families can do their part to ensure that this holiday stays joyous from start to finish. Avoid common mistakes with these Thanksgiving safety tips from the experts at ServiceMaster Cobb.

 

• Inspect fire alarms before Thanksgiving Day. Batteries should be replaced once a year, and each fire alarm should be tested once a month to ensure it still works as intended. Before Thanksgiving, hit the test button on your fire alarms to make sure they can alert you if anything goes wrong during the holiday.
• Check food regularly while you cook. Use timers to remind you when certain items need to be inspected and when others are finished cooking, especially if you’re working on multiple dishes at once.
• Keep children away from the cooking area. There should be at least three feet between young children and the stove to help ensure that they stay safe. . The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away
• Clean surfaces regularly to reduce grease buildup. An accumulation of grease could help ignite a fire if one breaks out.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. In the event that a fire does break out, having a fire extinguisher nearby to douse the flames quickly can save you from significant loss and destruction.
• Make sure all cooking equipment is turned off at the end of the day. This includes ovens, stoves, fryers, small appliances and any other items you used to cook your dishes.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

• Never leave cooking food unattended. When frying, grilling, boiling or baking, it’s crucial to stay in the kitchen until the food is finished. That way, if an accident happens or a fire does break out, you can react quickly to minimize any damage. If you must leave the kitchen for any period of time, turn off the stove.
• Never wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. These items can cause spills, get stained or even catch fire. If you’ll be cooking in the kitchen, wear proper clothing.
• Never keep anything that can catch fire near the stove, oven or other heat-generating appliance. This includes pot holders, oven mitts, food packaging and wooden utensils.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.

• Act immediately but stay calm.
• Alert everyone in the home and make sure to leave the property immediately. Use your pre-planned escape route if you have one, and consider developing one now if you don’t.
• When everyone is evacuating the building, make sure everyone stays low and crawls since smoke rises.
• Do not stop to find your pets and help them out of the home.
• If you can, close the door to the room the fire started in and close doors as you continue to exit the building.
• Before opening any closed doors on your way out, touch it with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, then there is likely fire behind it and you must find an alternative route to exit the building.
• Do not attempt to extinguish a fire unless you are trained to do so.
• Do not go back into the building.
• Call the fire department as soon as you safely have the opportunity to do so. If there is anyone remaining in the building, make sure to inform them of this.