LAFD News: Los Alamos Fire Department would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. During this holiday season Los Alamos Fire Department wants to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Keep in mind the potential dangers of home cooking fires:
- Turkey fryers can easily tip over spilling hot oil across a large area. Use your turkey fryer only outdoors on a sturdy, level surface well away from things that can burn. Make sure to have a “3- foot kid- and pet free zone” around your turkey dryer to protect against burn injuries.
- An overfilled cooking pot will cause oil to spill over when the turkey is placed outside. Determine the correct amount of oil needed by first placing the turkey in a pot with water.
- A partially frozen turkey will cause hot oil to splatter. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed before you fry it.
- Turkey fryers can easily overheat and start a fire. Check the temperature often with a cooking thermometer so the oil won’t overheat.
- The pot, lid and handles of a turkey fryer can get dangerously hot and cause burn injuries. Use long cooking gloves that protect hands and arms when you handle these items.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working (test them by pressing the test button- you should hear a loud beep) and replace batteries if needed. Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should be placed on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms.
- While cooking keep a close watch. Never leave food unattended.
- Children are excited and curious about all the activity going on in their homes. Keep children at least 3-feet away from hazards including stoves, hot foods, hot liquids, lighters, matches, candles and knives. Keep cords from dangling over counters; these can be dangerous to a curious child. The steam or splash from hot foods or liquids could cause serious burns.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop. In case of a grease fire, keep a lid nearby. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turning off the stove. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
- Don’t wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners, they can melt, ignite or get caught on handles causing hot liquids to spill.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. In 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,760 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contribution factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking equipment was involved in almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.
During the holidays large families gather in homes to enjoy the holiday season. Los Alamos Fire Department encourages families to take some time during the holiday season to practice your home escape plan. Tell your guests or visitors about your fire escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure doors and windows leading outside can easily be opened. Close doors behind you as you leave. If your alarm sounds, GET OUT AND STAY OUT. Once out immediately call 9-1-1. Under no circumstances should anyone go back into a burning building, if someone is missing notify the dispatcher when calling 9-1-1. Firefighters are trained and have equipment to perform rescues.
For more information on Fire Safety including smoke alarms, fire escape plans or cooking safety, contact the Los Alamos Fire Department at 505.662.8301.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
