A Recipe For Disaster

11/12/2018 (Permalink)

A Recipe for Disaster

  Thanksgiving is a popular time for family and friends to come together for food and company. Unfortunately, it is the leading day for home cooking fires in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association; between 2011 and 2015, it is estimated cooking fires contributed to $1.2 billion in property damage annually. There is an average of 455 daily cooking fires in the US. Their evidence has stated that in 2015, on Thanksgiving Day, there were four times as many cooking fires as any other day of the year.

  Unattended cooking equipment continues to be the primary cause of holiday fires. Some equipment presents a greater risk than people have prepared for. Turkey fryers have become a popular and easy way to prepare your holiday feast. Despite the ease and delicious results, these fryers come with their own unique set of safety precautions. According to the NFPA, deep-frying turkey has led to an exponential increase in holiday fires.

  Nobody wants a disaster to ruin a perfect Thanksgiving with the people we love. Below are some essential tips to keep yourself and family safe while cooking this year.

In your home:

• Do not leave food unsupervised, especially when cooking with oil
• Keep flammable material like wooden utensils, oven mitts, towels, and food packaging away from stovetops
• Use a timer to keep track of cooking times, and monitor meals that take a long time to cook.

If you are using a fryer:

• Fully thaw and dry your turkey. Excess water will cause the oil to boil over, potentially burning anyone nearby. If cooking oil spills onto the burner, it can easily start a fire.
• Set your fryer up outdoors, on flat ground, and away from your home
• Keep track of the oil temperature, and use protection when touching the lid and handle.
• Be prepared for a fire. Have a multi-purpose dry powder fire extinguisher ready at all times.

 We encourage everyone to practice safety this holiday season. Please call SERVPRO of Sussex County at 302-856-9768 for any questions or issues relating to fire damage and remember it is always best to use an expert in such cases to lessen cost and severity of damage. You may also visit our website at: www.SERVPROsussexcounty.com