YFD’s Thanksgiving cooking safety tips
Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires.
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are more than three times as many home cooking fires on Thanksgiving as there are on a typical day of the year.
That makes Thanksgiving by far the leading day for home cooking fires.
But the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the food, and the Yuma Fire Department says to be mindful.
Mike Erfert urges locals to use caution when cooking this year's feast.
He said the number one reason for home fires is unattended cooking.
In an interview with News 11, Erfert said, "Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, I think there's a lot more cooking going on in-home, and there’s certainly a lot more distractions. Additional phone calls, people dropping in, thinking of last-minute things you have to get from the store, the potential is there for something to happen.”
With 40 years in public safety, here are a few of Erfert’s tips to make sure your holiday is a breeze.
- Make sure you always watch what you heat
- Turn off the stove if you leave the house
- Check the oven before pre-heating
- Enforce a kid-free zone 3-feet around the stove
- Turn pot handles inward instead of outward
- Avoid using candles
These have all lead to several fires in the Yuma area during past holiday seasons.
YFD believes taking these few extra steps will help ensure a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
