ECFR Reminds Residents to Practice Fire Safety this Thanksgiving

Escambia County Fire Rescue reminds residents to stay safe when cooking on Thanksgiving, the peak day for home-cooking fires across the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 49% of house fires result from cooking.

"Escambia County Fire Rescue wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving," Fire Chief Adam Harrison said. "The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the busiest times of the year, especially in the kitchen. While preparing your holiday meals, we encourage residents to pay close attention while cooking and make safety a priority to ensure a great Thanksgiving."

Follow these tips to help prevent fires and to be better prepared in the event of a fire:

• Always have working smoke detectors in your home. For information about obtaining a home smoke detector, call 850-595-HERO (4376). City of Pensacola residents may call 850-436-5200 for assistance with the installation of a smoke detector.
• Have an escape plan and know two ways out of every room in your home.
• In the event of a fire, call 911, even if you think the fire is out.
• Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the room, turn the stove off first.
• Do not panic if a pan catches on fire. Place a lid over the pan, turn the heat source off and let the pan cool.
• If a fire occurs in your oven, leave the door closed and turn the oven off to prevent the fire from spreading.
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove.
• Never wear loose clothing while cooking.
• Keep the area around the stove clear of anything that can burn, including packaging, paper towels and dishcloths.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so you don't bump them.

Turkey Frying Safety Tips

• Use a fryer with thermostat controls. This will ensure the oil does not become overheated.
• Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the turkey will cause the oil to splatter.
• Don't overfill the pot with oil. If you do, the oil will overflow when you add the turkey causing a fire hazard.
• Always use the fryer outdoors. Ensure the fryer is at least 10 feet from a structure or other combustible material.
• Only use your turkey fryer on sturdy, level surfaces as they can easily tip over.
• Consider using an electrical or air fryer.

Thanksgiving Fire Statistics

• Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires.
• Two-thirds of home cooking fires started when food or other cooking materials caught fire.
• Cooking causes nearly half (53%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (38%) home fire injuries. It is also the leading cause of home fire deaths (18%).
• On Thanksgiving alone, an estimated 1,160 home cooking fires were reported to the U.S. fire departments in 2021, reflecting in a 297% increase over the daily average.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

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