While most people consider over eating the greatest peril of Thanksgiving, cooking the day’s feast presents its own risks, too. The Vista Fire Department reports Thanksgiving Day is one of the leading days for home cooking fires.
“Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday for fun and family,” said Ned Vander Pol, City of Vista Fire Chief,
“but it is also a day to be extra careful, because entertaining and distractions make it easy to forget about what’s cooking on the stove. By recognizing the risks of the holidays and making simple adjustments, residents can greatly reduce their chance of home cooking fires.”
Recommended Safety Tips
•Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave, even for a short period, turn off the stove.
•When simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while the food is cooking and use a timer as a reminder.
•Stay alert. Don’t use the oven or stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol.
•Keep oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, curtains, or anything flammable away from the stovetop.
If a cooking fire occurs
1.Get out! When leaving, close the door to help contain the fire.
2.Call 9-1-1 from outside of the home.
3.If you try to fight the fire, make sure: others are getting out; you have a clear path out of the home; and someone has called the fire department (9-1-1-).
4.Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
5.For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Contact
Vista Fire Prevention Bureau
P: 760.643.2801
