As you begin preparing for your Thanksgiving meal this Thursday, remember to take some basic precautions to protect yourself and your family while working in the kitchen.
Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says never leave anything cooking on your stove or in your oven unattended, and be mindful of how you are using smaller appliances on the counter top.
“Try to plug everything in the outlet if you can,” Crane said. “If you do have to use an extension cord for a short period of time, make sure that it’s going to be a high enough amperage for those devices so that you don’t have that risk of fire there, and make sure all those cords and everything are away from the edge of the counter as well.”
If you plan on frying your turkey this year, please plan accordingly.
“Treat it kind of like we tell you with a grill,” Crane said. “Keep it about 10 feet away from your house and any overhangs. Don’t have it in the garage or on the back porch, especially with a roof on it. Make sure those turkeys are fully thawed and that they’re not cold. You’re putting it in hot oil. Don’t overfill your fryer.”
Crane says the general rule of thumb is to keep a three-foot buffer between the cooking area and kids and pets.
“Give the younger kids something to do,” Crane said. “Maybe let them help set the table, maybe have some coloring pages printed off, or let the older kids kind of keep them busy, that kind of thing.”
Make sure things such as paper towels or dishcloths are away from stovetops, and don’t forget to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
