| The members of the Dunn's Corners Fire Department would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA, www.nfpa.org), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. NFPA offers these tips for safer cooking:
-Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.
-If you must leave the home for even a short period of time, turn off the stove or oven.
-If you are simmering, baking, boiling or roasting food, check it regularly and remain in the home while food is cooking. Use a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on.
-Keep things that burn - pot holders, oven mitts, paper or plastic - off your stovetop.
-Clean food and grease off burners, stovetops and ovens.
-Wear clothing with sleeves that are short, close fitting, or tightly rolled up.
-Use the stove's back burners whenever possible, and turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots with hot contents will be knocked over.
Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy in case a fire starts.
-If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never pour water on a grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the fire.
-If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing.
-If there is a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the microwave.
Remember if a fire does start, it's imperative that you call 911 immediately to ensure a speedy response of the fire department. Waiting to call the fire department and trying to take control of the situation yourself may contribute to the spread of the fire. Even if you think you have put a fire out, you should still call. The fire department will check and make sure the fire is actually out. Remember...be fire smart! |
