While Thanksgiving is customarily a celebratory day to spend with loved ones, the kitchen poses the greatest threats to fire safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires originating from the kitchen.
Avoid the most common mistakes with these Thanksgiving fire safety tips from the fire damage restoration experts at ServiceMaster Restoration Services by Ideal Group.
1. Always Keep an Eye on the Kitchen
When you are cooking a Thanksgiving feast, you must always stay in the kitchen and watch the stove or oven for fire safety. Most people are distracted during this festive time or try to multitask, often neglecting the basics of fire safety, which could lead to an unmanageable fire breaking out in seconds.
2. Never Leave Your Residence While Cooking
Leaving any appliance on without proper safety measures or supervision greatly increases the likelihood of a fire breaking out. You should always remain in your home while cooking Thanksgiving food or have a responsible family member watch the area if you need to leave for any reason.
3. Keep Children Away from the Kitchen
Thanksgiving cooking is often a hectic task. Children can exacerbate the process of safely cooking, leading to fires or being at risk for burns in a busy kitchen. You should keep at least 3 feet between young children and the stove to help ensure that they stay safe.
4. Make Sure All Fire Alarms Are Operational
Before Thanksgiving, you need to make sure that all the fire alarms are working properly. Batteries should be replaced once a year and each fire alarm should be tested at least once a month to ensure it still works as intended.
5. Keep the Kitchen Clean
A thoroughly cleaned and spotless kitchen helps prevent accidental spills and makes navigating a busy space easier to deal with. As food debris falls, it can provide fuel for combustion. With so many distractions going on, you can easily burn your food and lead to a fire. And as an added safety precaution, keep all the equipment and items back after using them.
6. Have a Fire Extinguisher Within Reach
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when you’re cooking for fire safety. In the event that a fire does break out, a fire extinguisher can suppress flames quickly and can save you from significant loss and destruction. Also, make sure it is up to date and fully charged.
9. Double-Check All Cooking Equipment After Cooking
It’s not uncommon to leave the oven or stove on in the frenzy that is preparing a feast. For peace of mind, ensure that all cooking equipment is turned off at the end of the day, including stoves, ovens, fryers, warmers, small appliances, and any other items used to cook throughout the day’s festivities.
10. Choose Proper Cooking Clothes
If you’ll be cooking in the kitchen or by a grill with an open flame, wear proper clothing. Avoid wearing any loose clothing or dangling sleeves while flames or excessive temperatures are present. These clothing articles can cause unwanted spills, become stained, and may even catch fire to burn your home and cause unnecessary injury.
Choose ServiceMaster Restoration Services By Ideal Group for Fire Damage Restoration Services
Our team hopes you have a wonderful time with your close friends and family during this holiday season. Follow all the fire safety tips and precautions above to ensure a safe and joyous time during this Thanksgiving season.
ServiceMaster Restoration Services By Ideal Group can restore your kitchen back to pre-loss condition in the event of a fire breaking out. Our team of experienced fire restoration technicians will carefully restore your home, taking care to remove any soot and lingering odors. And for peace of mind, we will take care of the insurance claims process so that you are not stressed during this difficult ordeal.
Call us to learn more about how we can help you today.