With Thanksgiving approaching, local fire agencies are warning residents about the cooking-related dangers the holiday can pose.
Thanksgiving is the leading day every year for home cooking fires, with three times the cooking fires reported on the holiday than any other average day, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Staff from the Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire District and CalFire offer the following tips to avoid fire and injuries associated with holiday cooking:
-Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
-If you leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove.
-Cooking food should always be supervised by an adult.
-Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and other material that can burn. Never use a fryer on wooden decks or in garages.
-Children should not be permitted near a turkey fryer because hot oil can cause burn injuries.
-Provide a level surface that is free of ignitable materials when using turkey fryers.
-Make sure a fire extinguisher is handy at all times. Never use water to put out a grease fire.
-Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles.
