The Pasadena Fire Department is the first to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and has issued a series of safety tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday. The Department emphasized that the kitchen, the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving, can also be a source of potential hazards.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. On Thanksgiving Day alone, an estimated 1,160 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2021, reflecting a 297 percent increase over the daily average.
As families start preparing their holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, the department advises following a few simple safety tips to enjoy time with loved ones and keep everyone safer from fire:
As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.
- Pasadena firefighters told residents to call 9-1-1 for help whenever a cooking fire is imminent and to never attempt to fight the fire themselves.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids.
- The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
By sticking to these guidelines, the Pasadena Fire Department hopes to reduce the number of cooking-related fires and ensure a safe and happy Thanksgiving for all.
