For Additional Information:
Firefighter Laura Rinehart, Public Information Officer
November 21, 2016
For Immediate Release:
Cooking Safely During the Holiday Season
Thanksgiving Day is full of excitement, good food and fun times with family. As preparations for the busy holiday are underway, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue encourages residents to follow safe cooking practices. Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires during the Thanksgiving holiday and throughout the year. Take a few moments to review these safety tips and ensure your holiday is memorable for all the right reasons.
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. If you leave the kitchen, even briefly, turn off the stove. If baking, roasting, or broiling, set timers to remind you food is cooking.
- Keep combustibles, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains, away from your stovetop.
- Maintain a three foot safety zone for kids around stove and hot appliances. Turn pot handles away so young children are less likely to get burned.
- Fired turkey fan? We recommend buying one from a grocery store or restaurant, or consider an oil-less turkey fryer. Hot oil from a turkey fryer can cause serious burns and destroy property.
If you have a fire:
- On the stovetop, slide a lid on the pan to smother the flames and turn off the burner. Do not remove the lid until the pan is completely cooled. Never pour water on a grease fire!
- For an oven fire, immediately turn off the heat and close the oven door.
- When in doubt, get out then call 9-1-1! Close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Working smoke alarms provide early warning if there’s a fire in your home. Keep smoke alarms connected while cooking.
For additional fire prevention information visit www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal or contact Lisa Braun, Public Education Manager, at 571-258-3222.
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