Cooking Safely for Thanksgiving

The Gallup Fire Department would like to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. The Kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving. Safety in the kitchen is important especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at home. The Gallup Fire Department and National Fire Protection Agency would like to offer a few Fire Safety Tips to prevent your Thanksgiving from going up in flames.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), cooking is the main cause of home fires. Also, the peak day for home cooking fires is Thanksgiving.

Keep your holiday safe and fun. Follow these tips:

· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the burner.

· Watch what you are cooking. Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.

· If you simmer, bake, or roast food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you.

· Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packages, towels, and curtains) away from your stovetop.

· Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Then, no one can bump them or pull them over.

· Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches fire. This will put the fire out.

· In the event of an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it is cool.

· Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.

· Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.