Did you know that more fires occur on Thanksgiving Day than on any other day of the year? And most of these Thanksgiving fires start as kitchen fires. Cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home and the leading cause of fire injuries.
Cambridge Fire Department and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Safety offer the following tips to help you stay safe this holiday season:
Cooking and Burn Safety
- Stand by your pan and stay in the kitchen when cooking.
- The best way to respond to a stove top fire is to put a lid on it and turn off the heat. Baking soda also works.
- Don't use water or a fire extinguisher on a grease fire and don't move a burning pan.
- Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves to cook. Keep pot handles turned inward to prevent spills.
- Keep combustible items like pot holders and towels away from burners.
Candle Fire Safety
- Burn candles inside a one foot circle of safety free of anything that can burn.
- Never leave candles burning unattended.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working. They are the best way to prevent fire fatalities.