Keep Your Loved Ones Safe on Thanksgiving

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to bake a delicious pumpkin pie, mash some potatoes, prepare the turkey, gather family and friends, and take a bite of the infamous green bean casserole. As you prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, we ask that you remember Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with almost four times the average daily number of reported home structure fires caused by cooking. The day before Thanksgiving (today) ranked second for home cooking fires. Therefore, we hope that you keep the safety tips listed below in mind so that you can safely enjoy your time with loved ones this holiday.

• Test your smoke alarms prior to beginning to cook to ensure they are properly working.
• Keep flammable items, such as oven mitts, towels, and food packaging, away from your cooking equipment.
• Check on your turkey and any other foods you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling regularly. We recommend using a timer.
• Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stove top and frying, grilling, and/or broiling food.
• Be sure to keep any children and/or pets at least three feet from the stove.

Source: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)