Thanksgiving peak day for cooking fires; ways to stay safe

COLUMBUS — As more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, fire officials are reminding the public about fire safety this holiday season.

On Thanksgiving Day alone around 1,400 home-cooking fires are reported — more than three times than an average day, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

“Between cleaning, taking care of children and cooking multiple dishes at a time, there’s no shortage of distractions in and around the kitchen. Staying alert and paying attention to what you’re cooking can go a long way in ensuring those distractions don’t have tragic consequences,” State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon said.

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Reardon suggests the following steps to help you stay safe this Turkey Day:

• Do not leave any cooking area unattended
• Set a timer as a reminder of the food you are preparing
• Maintain a “kid-free zone” of three feet around the stove or areas where hot food or drinks are being prepared
• Keep paper towels and napkins away from hot surfaces
• Keep deep-fried turkey cooking out of the garage, away from your home and wooden structures
• Before frying a turkey, place it in the fryer and cover it with water to determine the exact amount of oil you will need to prevent a fire caused by overflow.
• Have an appropriate fire extinguisher handy
• If the fire becomes out of control, evacuate and call 911

If you have to file an insurance claim, take photographs or video of the damage and immediately contact your insurance agent or company. Provide complete and accurate information when submitting a claim to avoid delay.

Additional safety tips are available from the State Fire Marshal’s Office at com.ohio.gov/fire

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