Be safe with holiday cooking, candles this year Published Dec. 11, 2013 By Ford Brooks JBER Fire Prevention Chief JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Cooking fires continue to be the most common type of fires experienced by U.S. households. This is even more apparent during the holidays. There is an increased incidence of cooking fires on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of civilian fire injuries in residences. These fires are preventable by simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment. Don't become a cooking fire casualty. Safe Cooking Tips The kitchen can be one of the most hazardous rooms in the home if you don't practice safe cooking behaviors. Stay in the kitchen when 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're cooking. To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy. Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains - away from your stovetop. Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean. Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner. Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire. If You Have a Cooking Fire When in doubt, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 911 or the local emergency number after you leave. If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit. Always keep a lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool. Call 911. In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing. If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. Unplug the appliance if you can safely reach the outlet. After a fire, both ovens and microwaves should be checked by a qualified technician and/or serviced before being used again. Nuisance Smoke Alarms If a smoke alarm sounds during normal cooking, you may need to move it farther away from the kitchen (according to manufacturer's instructions) or install a smoke alarm with a pause button. If your alarm already has a pause button, push the pause button, open the door or window, and fan the area around the alarm with a towel to get the air moving. Do not disable the smoke alarm or take the batteries out. Treat each smoke alarm activation as a likely fire and react quickly and safely to the alarm. Frying turkeys Use turkey fryers outdoors at least 10 feet from buildings and any other combustible materials. A garage is not "outdoors" and neither is a wooden deck. Keep the fryer on a flat surface to avoid accidental tipping. Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use. To avoid oil spillover, plan for the displacement of the turkey; do not overfill the fryer. Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix; water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard. The National Turkey Federation recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, evacuate anyone in the affected area and immediately call the fire department for help. Burns and Scalds Most burns associated with cooking equipment, cookware, and tableware are not caused by fire or flame. In 2009, ranges or ovens were involved in an estimated 17,300 thermal burn injuries seen in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Microwaves are a leading cause of scald burns. Be extra careful when opening a heated food container and only heat food in containers that are marked 'microwave safe.' Since foods heat unevenly in the microwave, make sure you stir and test the food before eating. Children under five years old face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than of being burned in a cooking fire. Keep children at least three feet away from where food and drink are being prepared or carried. Keep hot foods and liquids away from the table or counter edges. Use the stove's back burners if you have young children in the home, and keep pot handles turned inward, not off the stove where curious hands can grab them. Never hold a child while cooking, drinking, or carrying hot foods or liquids. Holiday concerns Holidays are filled with candles, scented oil warmers, and strings of lights. Ensure your tree has adequate water so needles don't dry out and become a fire hazard. Don't leave burning candles unattended or within the reach of children or pets or in a place where they could be easily knocked over or cause burns. For more information on fire safety, contact the Fire Prevention Office at 552-2620.