The kitchen is the heart of the home and the hub for excitement during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people in the home. Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. In 2013, Thanksgiving Day was the leading date for home cooking fires with 1,550, 230% above the average number of fires per day. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
By following these few simple safety tips you can keep yourself and family safer from fire in the kitchen:
- 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.
- Maintain a 3 feet “Kid Free Zone” around the stove.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, or bags.
- Consider using flameless candles as a safe alternative to candles.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
According to Champaign Fire Chief Gary Ludwig, “More fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home. And on Thanksgiving, in particular, this risk goes up. Remember to keep yourself and family safe by maintaining working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”
Contact: Randy Smith, Deputy Fire Marshal | 217-403-7212 | [email protected]