Thanksgiving is a Big Fire Danger Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Thanksgiving is many things to many people.

It's a day to give thanks, a day to watch football, a day off from work, an awful travel day.

For State Fire Marshal Alex Sink, it's the number one day of the year for home cooking fires.

In 2008 alone, cooking fires caused an estimated $40 million in damages.

"Given that cooking is the number one known cause of house fires in our state, I encourage all Floridians to be safe this Thanksgiving," said CFO Sink.  "Floridians can follow a few simple tips to ensure that their Thanksgiving is about celebrating with friends and family, not calling their local fire department."

Those tips include:

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of 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 are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire - oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains - away from your stovetop.

In the event of fire, follow these tips:

• Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• When in doubt, just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

Also, while a fried turkey may taste delicious, preparing it can be very dangerous.

Our sister station WFMY in Greensboro, NC, hosted an entire segment on the dangers of frying turkeys.

Be sure to watch the videos and make sure your turkey fryer isn't under a ceiling or within 10 feet of a structure, and have a fire extinguisher nearby.

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