Beyond the Flames — ‘When Cooking, Never Leave the Kitchen Unattended’

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and the official start of the holiday season. For many area households, family and friends throughout our area will be gathering to celebrate together. Holiday celebrations also bring upon a large array of food – and the increased risk of holiday-related fires.
Holiday fires cause over $930 million in damages and injure some 2,600 people in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. To prevent from becoming part of the 2012 statistics, a few simple steps can be taken to ensure that a home is fire-safe for the holidays.
The holidays often bring a higher number of people than usual into your household, sometimes requiring overnight stays. Be sure to install smoke detectors with working batteries in each of the rooms that occupants will be sleeping in, at a minimal. For maximum prevention, install a detector in each room of the home, and be sure to check that the batteries are up-to-date and replace if needed.
Be sure to notify all guests of emergency exits and where they are located in the event that they need to evacuate the building. Be familiar with an escape plan, and inform guests of any hazards they should be aware of (such as non-functioning doors or windows). When smoke detectors go off, don’t try to silence them – get out and stay out.
Cooking at any time is a potentially dangerous activity in regards to fire hazards, but Thanksgiving Day in particular identifies as an increasingly dangerous one. The U.S.F.A. reports that Thanksgiving Day is by far the most likely of days to have a kitchen fire. In fact, due to cooking mishaps on Thanksgiving, approximately 15 deaths, 50 injuries, and over $21 million in damages occur each year.
When cooking, never leave the kitchen unattended. The best mode of fire prevention is to prevent giving heat sources a chance to ignite in the first place. Be sure to keep a careful eye on what’s cooking, even if it’s simmering or slow-roasting a food. Occasionally checking these items can prevent overcooking and potential cooking fires.
If leaving the house, even for just a short period of time, always turn off all cooking equipment. Never leave cooking equipment unattended while in use, including the self-cleaning mode on an oven. This mode can still allow for hot gases to build up, causing potential fire. Monitor the oven periodically during self-cleaning.
When using a turkey-frying device such as a deep fryer, be sure to only use this equipment outside. Beware of the warm oils that are used to cook inside such equipment, and remember that oils can stay extremely hot even hours after cooking is completed.
Set up a safety zone around the fryer, removing any potentially flammable items, and be sure to keep children away from the equipment. Lastly, always use an insulated potholder or oven mittens when handling such equipment.
In all cooking settings, a multi-purpose fire extinguisher should be clearly visible and readily accessible to those cooking. Remember to never put water on a grease fire. In the event of a fire, use your own judgment to determine whether to attempt to extinguish the fire yourself.
This decision is a rather easy one to make – if you have to stop and decide it’s already too late – exit the building immediately and dial 9-1-1. Some of the most devastating fires can be easily prevent if homeowners call for emergency personnel immediately.
As the season continues, be weary of Christmas lights and trees. Christmas trees should be watered daily to ensure that they do not become dry, making them much more flammable. Keep your tree away from sources of heat, such as a fireplace or heater. These items can dry the tree out and make it highly flammable.
When stringing lights on a tree or outdoors, be sure to check for broken or missing lights and wires. Don’t use damaged strands. Lastly, always be sure to use the proper type of lights when decorating. Never use lights identified as “indoors only” outside. These lights are not meant to be wet, and moisture could cause such lights to short out and cause a fire.
Following these few simple but important steps can make the difference between a memorable holiday season, or one you wish you could forget.
Knoll, 20, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at beyondtheflamescmcgmail.com. He is a student at Rowan University.