When cooking on Thanksgiving, keep it safe turkey

  • Published
  • By JBER Fire Emergency Services
  • Safety advisory
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  JBER Fire Emergency Services is calling on cooks across the installation to include fire safety in their recipes because Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires.

From 2006 to 2008, the average number of reported residential building fires on Thanksgiving Day almost doubled from the average number of fires in residential buildings on all days other than Thanksgiving.

As a result, it is particularly important to look at the characteristics of residential building fires on Thanksgiving.

From 2006 to 2008, an estimated 4,300 Thanksgiving Day fires occurred annually in the United States causing 10 deaths, 50 injuries, and $30 million in property loss.

Trending has developed and serves as a reminder to pay attention while cooking your holiday feast.

Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occur most frequently in the afternoon hours from 12 to 4 p.m., peaking from noon to 1 p.m.

Cooking fires account for 69 percent of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings. Nearly all of these cooking fires (97 percent) are small, confined fires with limited damage.

However, these holiday misfortunes could be potentially avoided if we all keep a keen eye on what is cooking, especially those turkeys!

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil.

Turkey fryers use a substantial quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures, and units currently available for home use pose a significant danger that hot oil will be released at some point during the cooking process.

The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries and the destruction of property.

NFPA urges those who prefer fried turkey to seek out professional establishments, such as grocery stores, specialty food retailers, and restaurants for the preparation of the dish, or consider a new type of oil-free turkey fryer.

To avoid cooking fires, cook with caution.

Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or oven.
Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.

If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

Keep anything that can catch fire - oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains - away from your stove.

Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of 3 feet around the stove.

If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible, and turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots with hot contents will be knocked over.

Never hold a small child while cooking.

Clean up food and grease from burners and the stove top.

Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires.

Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stove.

Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.

When in doubt, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

Call 911 or a local emergency number after exiting.

This Thanksgiving Day, the JBER Fire Emergency organization wants to encourage families to continue fire safety measures while celebrating.

Evidence has shown us that Thanksgiving fires can happen and we must all consider the consequences of unsafe actions.

For additional information or questions please don't hesitate to contact the JBER Fire Prevention office at 552-2620.