The Everett Fire Department reminds residents to follow these simple tips to stay safe this Thanksgiving holiday.
Have a working smoke alarm on every level in your home, one in every bedroom, and one in the halls outside any bedrooms. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries every year. Instruct overnight guests on your family fire escape plan and designated outside meeting place.
Start holiday cooking with a clean stove. Remove any buildup of grease that may be on the surface of the appliance. When cooking, use the back burners whenever possible, and keep pot handles turned in so they do not extend over the stove where they can be easily bumped. Every home should have a minimum of one ABC-rated fire extinguisher. Keep it near the cooking area, on the exit side of the room.
Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home or after going to bed. Make sure they are located where children will not be tempted to play with them and where guests will not accidentally brush against them.
Turkey Fryer Safety Tips
Use them outdoors and away from combustible material.
Place the fryer on a flat, stable surface and do not overfill the unit with cooking oil.
Do not move the fryer once it has been started, and only place in them turkeys that are completely thawed.
Keep children away from the cooking unit.
Use a thermometer to gauge food temperature.
Make sure the oil is completely cool before removing it from the fryer, and never attempt to use water to extinguish or cool hot oil.
Fryers are often bumped or tipped over when the turkey is put in or taken out, presenting a greater risk for the oil to splash or spill. Outdoor fryers that come with a stand pose the greatest risk of tipping.
The oil is heated to such a high temperature for frying that the vapors could ignite, resulting in a fire.
If you use a turkey fryer during rain or snow, the risk of injury is increased. When rain or snow hits the hot oil, the oil can splash or turn to steam, which can cause burns.
Numerous fires have ignited when fryers were moved indoors or into a garage to keep the appliance out of the rain.
Moving the turkey from the fryer to a serving plate presents another chance of contact with hot oil.
