Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. In 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,400 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving.
Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
Here are a few ways to keep your family safe and avoid a visit from the Greenville City Fire Department this Thanksgiving:
- 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. Kids and pets 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.
Visit the City of Greenville website for additional info.
Prepared by the City of Greenville.