City of Laurel Shares Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips

From City of Laurel:

Nationally, Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires, with three times as many fires occurring on this holiday, according to fire safety statistics.

The City of Laurel Office of the Fire Marshal and Permit Services is passing along the following safety information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration and Mayor Craig A. Moe hopes these tips help keep your family safe this Thanksgiving:

• Never leave cooking food unattended and keep combustibles away from burners and heat sources.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared or carried.
• Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly. Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop.
• Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home.
• If using a fryer, do not overfill the fryer; always use them outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials; and never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
• Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping and keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby.
• Never leave the fryer unattended and never let children or pets near the fryer.
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed - 24 hours for every five pounds in weight - and be careful with marinades - oil and water do not mix!

Image via the City of Laurel.