Nov 3 2009
Experts recommend people prevent their holiday from turning into an emergency by following a few precautions
In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday, many cooks are busy stocking up on ingredients and perfecting family recipes. But before they mash the potatoes or roast the turkey, they will want to take precautions to ensure that their kitchen doesn’t end up in flames.
"Thanksgiving is a day filled with food and family, but it is also a day that presents many hazards to your home," said Rick Isaacson, executive vice president of Servpro Industries, Inc. "With multiple tasks taking place in the kitchen at once, it is all too easy for cooks to get distracted and for accidents to take place."
Isaacson says that by adhering to the following tips, provided by the NFPA, people can lessen their chances of a fire ruining their Thanksgiving feast:
- Be present – Fires often start when items cooking are left unattended, so always stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, baking or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the oven or stove.
- Dress accordingly – Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. Loose clothing can easily catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric burner.
- Keep kids out – Enforce a "kid free zone" of three feet around the perimeter of the stove. If kids are present in the kitchen, use the stove's back burners whenever possible and turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots with hot contents will be knocked over.
- Clean, clean, clean – Be sure your stove top and oven are free of grease, which can easily catch fire. Additionally, keep all combustible cooking accessories, such as pot holders, oven mitts and wooden utensils, away from the stove top.
In the event of damage caused by a residential fire, SERVPRO offers an assortment of services to help people quickly recover and restore any damaged property.
Source: http://www.nfpa.org/index.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1