One thing that can easily ruin a holiday gathering is a fire.
Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Tony Fuller says one of the big ways to avoid issues is simply to monitor cooking from the cook site — usually the kitchen. Another is to minimize distractions, especially if there are children nearby.
Fuller also reminds residents planning to fry their turkeys to take a few simple steps to avoid a cooking disaster.
The National Fire Prevention Association says Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average. Unattended cooking was, by far, the leading contributor to cooking fires and fire-related deaths. Overall, cooking causes 52 percent of all reported home fires, 36 percent of home fire injuries and 17 percent of home fire deaths.
Both Emporia Fire and NFPA urge several common-sense tips to avoid fires:
*Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
*Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
*Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
*Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
*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.
*Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
*Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
*Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
Another focus point comes from the Office of Kansas State Fire Marshal: carbon monoxide:
*Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in kitchens.
*Gas stove burners should burn blue. Yellow or orange flames indicate incomplete combustion and a release of carbon monoxide.
*Ovens should be used for cooking, not heating the rest of the house due to the risk of carbon monoxide.
*Range hoods should be vented to the outside and running whenever the stove is operating
*Portable grills, regardless of whether they are charcoal or gas-powered, should never be used indoors.
Video courtesy National Fire Prevention Association
