Firefighters Offer Insights on a Safe Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to gather together, but the holiday is also the peak day for home cooking fires — with more than three times the daily average for such incidents, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Just as you want to keep your family safe this Thanksgiving holiday, volunteer firefighters with Capital Region Firefighter companies train to keep their families, friends, neighbors, and community members safe each and every day. During this Thanksgiving season of service, gratitude, and thankfulness, consider giving back to your community by joining your local Capital Region Firefighter fire company.

On Thanksgiving, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and children love to be involved in holiday preparations. Safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at home.

According to NFPA, unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking causes half (49%) of all reported home fires and more than two of every five (42%) home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

As you start preparing for your large family gathering and feast, Capital Region Firefighter encourages all residents to follow a few simple safety tips so you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep your family safe from an accidental fire:

• Turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe. These fryers use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns. If you want a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving meal, purchase it from a grocery store, restaurant or buy a fryer that does not use oil.
• Consider purchasing an infrared fryer, air fryer, or electric turkey fryer, that has been listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3-feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Following these tips will not only help keep your family safe this Thanksgiving holiday but allow you the peace of mind to enjoy time with your loved ones during this season of gratitude. If you are considering giving back to your community, there are many ways to volunteer at with Capital Region Firefighter companies including:

• Firefighters: Protect property and help save lives during an emergency or natural disaster. You’ll learn to advance a hose line, how to position a ladder dependent on the situation, and perform search-and-rescue duties.

• EMTs: Administer pre-hospital medical care. Transport the sick and injured to the hospitals. Respond to rescue calls.

• Fire Police: Direct traffic and crowds. Provide general assistance to other first responders. Fire police bring order to an often a hectic scene.

• Junior firefighters (teenagers): Gain experience at your local fire company to prepare to become a full member as an adult. This is also a way to pick up community service hours.

• Administrative volunteers: Teach fire safety, assist at community events, fundraising and grant writing, bookkeeping, website and social media updates and much more. We will find something that best suits your skill set and interests!

“Be part of an adventure full of adrenaline rushes, new skills, and physical and mental challenges,” said Carlisle Fire and Rescue Services President/Firefighter Maurita Hewitt.

Capital Region Firefighter has a great need for volunteers like YOU. The number of volunteer firefighters has significantly fallen nationwide over the past several decades. In Pennsylvania alone, there were about 360,000 volunteer firefighters in 1975, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. That number has fallen to around 37,000 in recent years.

“We’re hoping that ordinary people will join and help make a difference in their community by becoming volunteer firefighters,” said Scott Ryno, coordinator of the 21-fire company regional effort.

To find out more about fire safety and how you can get involved in your community, please contact Capital Region Firefighter. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out an inquiry form at www.capitalregionfirefighter.org.