Image courtesy State Farm, YouTube
Thanks to the ever-growing popularity of deep-fried turkeys, kitchen fires nearly triple on Thanksgiving Day. On average, 1,300 kitchen fires occur on the holiday, as compared to about 300 on any other given day, and an estimated $8 million dollars of property damage has been sustained since 2010.
Thanksgiving is a day for spending time with family, stuffing yourself with your favorite foods, and watching football; however, according to State Farm, it is also prime time for house fires. In an analysis of insurance claims for cooking and grease-related fires in the past ten years, the company found Thanksgiving to be a hazardous hotspot. Yet, the company also noticed a cooling trend in recent years, with the number of reported fires steadily declining. Experts seem to believe this trend is attributed to a slowdown of the short-lived, but exceedingly dangerous, deep-fried turkey craze.
So now that you know about the increased fire threat, how do you cook Thanksgiving dinner safely?
- Avoid loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves near ranges, ovens, or open flames.
- Watch children and pets closely so they do not come into contact with cooking food or hot stovetops.
- Turn panhandles towards the back of the stove to prevent young children from spilling scalding contents on others or themselves.
- If you are cooking your bird in a turkey fryer, do so outside and away from your home. This does not mean in your garage or on your porch.
- Never overfill the oil in the turkey fryer and never leave the turkey fryer unattended.
Thanksgiving is a day to create lasting memories and surround yourself with great food and company. Be sure to follow and share these helpful tips with friends and family this holiday season. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving from the Law Firm of Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd.
