Saying the Greatest Number of Home-Cooking Fires Occur on Thanksgiving, Pasadena Firefighters List Safety Tips

Members of the Pasadena Firefighters Association, Local 809 of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), are urging residents in the Pasadena area to stay alert this Thanksgiving holiday and help prevent fires and accidents in the home.

A tweet by the association Wednesday called on residents to “avoid a Thanksgiving tragedy in your community” and share tips for cooking safely.

The tweet included an IAFF flyer that said “the greatest number of home-cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day,” data which the National Fire Protection Association also confirms – it said cooking is the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day, and that a cooking fire is three times more likely on Thanksgiving Day than on any other day of the year.

“Misusing equipment in the kitchen can very quickly lead to a home fire, so make sure you stay alert this #Thanksgiving to make it a safe one!” the tweet added.

The IAFF flyer said homeowners should “make sure your smoke alarms are working” by testing them often. Testing is done by holding the button on the alarm; the device should emit a loud beep if it’s in working condition.

Other fire prevention and accident prevention tips that the Association gave out advise residents to remain in the kitchen at all times if you’re cooking; check regularly if you’re simmering, baking, roasting or boiling your food; keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop; and keep children at least three feet away from the stove or areas where hot food and liquids are being prepared.

Most home fires on Thanksgiving occur between noon and 4 p.m., which are the peak cooking hours during the holiday. Many of the fires are caused by “unattended equipment, abandoned material, a heat source left too close to flammable materials, product misuse and cooking equipment that is not properly turned off,” the IAFF said.

The use of turkey fryers, the IAFF said, also poses a significant danger and can lead to devastating burns, other injuries and destruction of property.

Cooking-related burns and scalds are also frequent during the holiday, the IAFF said.

“To prevent scalds and burns, cook on back burners and make sure all pot handles are turned inward so children don’t come into contact with them,” according to the IAFF.

Parents should make sure appliances that get hot, such as toaster ovens, should also be well out of a child’s reach. The IAFF said they should have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food is being prepared or carried.

The Pasadena firefighters also advised residents to call 9-1-1 for help whenever a cooking fire is imminent and to never attempt to fight the fire themselves.

This story was originally published November 22, 2020.