Do you know the top FIVE FIRE HAZARDS? Being aware of these can prevent a wonderful family holiday from blowing up in smoke. Check and double check each of these to ensure safety for your family:
1. Keep that turkey fryer outside!
Oh, the wonderful smell of a frying Turkey! It should go without saying that turkey fryers MUST remain outdoors, and at that, they should be off the deck and away from the house. These devices contain boiling oil which can start instant fires, especially if your turkey has any frozen parts or moisture. Be sure the turkey is 100% dry before SLOWLY submerging it in the turkey fryer. And be sure that kids are nowhere near this cooking monster.
2. Who’s watching the stove??
That’s right, multi-tasking is common around the holidays and we can get sidetracked with other duties. But unattended cooking can be disastrous. The majority of home fires start with cooking and when our guests are also demanding our attention, it’s easy to forget what’s on the stove. Be sure to have someone designated to focus on the cooking appliances!
3. Multi-tasking in the kitchen
It’s no secret that we have to prepare several dishes at once and several of them take hours of cooking. It’s not just the stove…it’s the air fryer and the toaster oven and all the other conveniences we employ to create our feast increasing the risk of accidents causing fires. Be sure to have multiple timers and someone to help with the 16 tasks going on at a time.
4. Grease fires from dirty appliances
All of our appliances can accumulate grease build-up over time leading to overheating and potential grease fires. Be sure that appliances are thoroughly cleaned before using for this holidays, especially for those that requires long cook hours of cooking. The toaster oven is one culprit that often appears benign but can flare up in flames in seconds unattended.
5. Other hazards
Cooking is not the only fire starters, although it does account for the majority of them. Decorations which include candles also pose a hazard and should never be left unattended. Additionally, when we have visiting company in that cold guest bedroom, the space heaters come out and can catch fire if not used properly. Be sure the heater is away from curtains and other flammable objects and be sure it has an ‘auto-off’ feature.
If any of these fires should start, BE READY with a fire extinguisher or a Fire blanket that can immediately put out a small fire preventing it from developing into a raging bonfire. The only bonfire you want burning is the one in your backyard after all the company has gone. Put your feet up and take a breath – you pulled off another major holiday with the house and kids still intact!
