Don’t Let Your Thanksgiving Feast Go Up in Smoke: Fire Safety Tips from MFPD

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and, of course, delicious food! While your kitchen is bustling with activity, it’s easy to overlook potential fire hazards. Did you know that Thanksgiving is consistently the peak day for home cooking fires, with a staggering three times the daily average?

The team at Mehlville Fire Protection District wants to help you keep your home and loved ones safe this holiday. A little planning and awareness can prevent a devastating fire and ensure your Thanksgiving memories are happy ones.

The Kitchen: Where Most Thanksgiving Fires Begin

The kitchen is the heart of Thanksgiving, and unfortunately, also the most common origin point for fires. Here’s how to minimize risks:

1. Stay in the Kitchen!

Never leave cooking food unattended. This is the golden rule. If you’re frying, grilling, or broiling food, stay in the kitchen. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the burner.
Use a timer. For foods that simmer, bake, or roast, set a timer so you don’t forget they’re cooking.

2. Watch the Stovetop

Keep flammable items away. Potholders, towels, plastic utensils, food packaging, and curtains should be kept well away from the stovetop and oven.
Clean surfaces. A buildup of grease on your stovetop or in your oven can easily ignite. Give your cooking surfaces a good clean before the big day.
Wear appropriate clothing. Loose-fitting sleeves can easily catch fire. Consider wearing shorter or snug-fitting sleeves while cooking.

3. Handle Hot Oil with Extreme Caution

Deep-frying a turkey? This method carries significant risks and should never be done indoors or in an enclosed space like a garage, porch, or deck. Fry turkeys outdoors, away from your home, on a flat, non-combustible surface.
Don’t overfill. Ensure the turkey is thawed and dry before lowering it into hot oil to prevent dangerous oil flare-ups. Never overfill the fryer.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Have a multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher nearby. Do NOT use water on a grease fire.

4. Oven Safety

Check for forgotten items. Before preheating, quickly check the oven for anything that might have been stored inside (like baking sheets or oven mitts).
Clean spills quickly. Food spills in the oven can smoke and potentially ignite.

Beyond the Kitchen: General Holiday Fire Safety

1. Smoke Alarms are Lifesavers

Test them! Take a moment this Thanksgiving week to test all your smoke alarms. Press the test button to ensure they are working.
Install strategically. Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside all sleeping areas, and outside sleeping areas.

2. Kids and Pets

Keep children and pets away from the cooking area. Create a “kid-free zone” around the stove and oven to prevent burns and accidental fires.
Keep matches and lighters out of reach. Store them in a locked cabinet.

3. Candles and Decorations

Use flameless candles. If you love the ambiance of candles, consider battery-operated flameless options. They look great and eliminate fire risk.
If using real candles, never leave them unattended. Keep them away from anything that can burn, like curtains, paper decorations, and table centerpieces.
Check string lights. If you’re decorating early, ensure string lights are in good condition (no frayed wires) and approved for indoor use.

What to Do if a Fire Starts

Small grease fire in a pan? If it’s small, immediately slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames, then turn off the heat. Leave the lid on until the pan has cooled completely.
Oven fire? Turn off the oven and keep the door closed.
When in doubt, get out! If the fire is growing, you can’t put it out safely, or you’re unsure, get everyone out of the house immediately.
Call 911 from a safe location. Once everyone is safely outside, call emergency services.

This Thanksgiving, let’s make safety a priority alongside our delicious meals. From all of us at Mehlville Fire Protection District, we wish you a warm, safe, and happy holiday!