NEWBURY — With Thanksgiving less than a week away, Chief Douglas Janvrin and the Newbury Fire Department would like to remind residents of several important cooking safety tips.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires (followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving). In 2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,570 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving.
Additionally, the NFPA reports that unattended cooking was the leading contributing 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.
“By taking a few simple precautions, you can keep yourself and loved ones safe from injury and fires,” Chief Janvrin said. “We hope that everyone has a safe, happy and relaxing holiday.”
To avoid tragedy this season, the Newbury Fire Department recommends residents follow several safety tips outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:
• Stay in the kitchen when boiling, frying, or broiling food.
• Use a timer when baking or roasting and never leave the house while the oven is on.
• Move anything that can catch fire — pot holders, towels, paper or plastic bags — away from your stove top.
• In the event that a fire occurs on a stove top, put a lid on the burner and turn off the heat. Keep doors closed and the appliance off if a fire happens in an oven, broiler or microwave. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire. Water will only spread the fire and the force of the extinguisher can splash flaming grease out of the pan.
• If your clothing catches fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL to put out the flames. Run cool water on burns or call 911 if the injury is serious.
• If the fire is not quickly snuffed out, leave the house and call the fire department.
• Keep children 3 feet away from the stove to prevent burns.
• Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working prior to the holiday.
Additionally, the NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers, as the amount and high temperature of the oil used can cause serious burns and injuries, and result in the destruction of property.
Residents who prefer fried turkey are urged to purchase one from a professional establishment, like a grocery store, specialty food retailer or restaurant.
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