TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - The holidays are among us and firefighters say, the leading cause to home fires during the holidays is cooking related. Home cooking fires peak on major U.S. holidays that traditionally include cooking such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter.
According to a Tallahassee Fire Department press release, TFD responded to 22 fire related incidents last year in the week surrounding Thanksgiving, making it one of the leading weeks for home cooking fires.
According to Chief Gaines of the Tallahassee Fire Department, "Thanksgiving is a fun and festive holiday, but it can also be very frantic. Having friends and family over and entertaining can cause distractions and it's easy to forget about what's cooking in the oven and on the stove-top. By recognizing the risks of the holidays and making simple adjustments, however, people can greatly reduce their chance of home cooking fires."
The Tallahassee Fire Department recommends the following safety tips for cooking on Thanksgiving:
· Keep an eye on what you fry. Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
· Keep things that can catch fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels and curtains away from the cooking area.
· Be alert when cooking. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop.
· If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire:
· On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
· For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
· If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire:
Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
