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Have a Fire Safe Thanksgiving

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jason Rudy
  • Fire prevention
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  As Thanksgiving approaches, many of you will sit down and enjoy a wonderful holiday meal with family and friends. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires on Thanksgiving Day. The occurrence of home fires nearly doubles. Here are a few safety precautions to aid in your joyous holiday.

Keep your family safe by ensuring you have working smoke detectors in your home. The latest national statistics tell us, that at least 95 percent of U.S. homes have at least one smoke detector in them. This statistic also tells us, that about one-fourth of those smoke detectors don't work because of a dead battery. Test your smoke detectors monthly, and replace the batteries every six months. 

Have a plan. Ensure that all members of your household know the escape plan and where to meet once outside of the house. Hold a practice drill, especially for children, so everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. Additionally, if you have overnight guests, make sure they are aware of your escape plan as well. 

Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher in it that is accessible from the exit side of your kitchen. To use any fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS -the acronym for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. If needed, pull the lock pin away from the operating mechanism, Aim the nozzle at the base of the flame, Squeeze the handle or button down, and Sweep from side to side until the fire is out. 

Start holiday cooking with a clean stove; remove any built-up grease that may be on the surface. Additionally, keep pot handles turned in so they don't hang over the edge of the stove where a child could reach for them. If you use a turkey fryer, be sure that it is outdoors, and away from any combustible material. Place the fryer on a flat, stable surface and do not overfill the unit with oil. Only place completely thawed and dry turkeys in the fryer. Excess water can cause the oil to boil over and ignite. Lastly, use a thermometer to monitor the oil temperature. 

A few simple things can go a long way when it comes to holiday safety. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.