November 21, 2017 - MARIPOSA- The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving. Kids love to be involved in holiday preparations. The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit of CAL FIRE would like to remind you that safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at the home.

Cooking is, and has been, the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries, and according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home cooking fires peak on major U.S. holidays that traditionally include cooking such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter. Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and associated civilian injuries and was the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

To help prevent kitchen fires in your home we offer the following safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.

• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.

• When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, and use a timer to remind you.

• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.

• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.

• Keep knives out or the reach of children.

• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.

• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children-up high in a locked cabinet

• Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.

• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from you stovetop.

• Make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove, so no one can bump them or pull them over.

• Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby, use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. Covering the pan will put out the fire. It is a recipe for serious injury or even death to wear loose clothing (especially hanging sleeves), walk away from a cooking pot on the stove, or leave flammable materials, such as potholders or paper towels, around the stove. Whether you are cooking the family holiday dinner or a snack for the children, practicing safe cooking behaviors will help keep you and your family safe.

There is an additional danger of fire, injury, or death if equipment is used for a purpose for which it was not intended. It’s best to cook only with equipment designed and intended for cooking.

CAL FIRE wishes you and yours a very safe and happy Thanksgiving celebration.

Additional information may be obtained at your local fire station or on the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov
Source: CAL FIRE