Fire Damage

While Preparing the Turkey, Prepare for Safety

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Cooler weather and change in leaf color remind us that Fall season has arrived with anticipation of the upcoming holidays.   As you take time to be thankful this Thanksgiving holiday, also take some time to think about safety in the kitchen while preparing that Thanksgiving meal.

According to the National Fire Institute Reporting System (NFIRS), the average number of residential building fires reported from 2014 -2016  on Thanksgiving Day was doubled that than other days of those years.  Nearly half of those fires on Thanksgiving Day occurred from 10 AM – 4 PM as opposed to when residential building fires typically occurring between 5 – 8 PM.    This time difference in fires most likely reflects the period of time during meal preparation along with extended cooking periods on Thanksgiving Day.   More than 70% of the fires on Thanksgiving Day were related to cooking versus 50% of the fires being related to cooking at other times of the year.

The following guidelines are recommended by the The National Fire Protection Agency for safely cooking:

  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking to keep a close eye on the food, especially when frying and sautéing with oil. 
  • Use a timer to keep track of cooking times, most notably when cooking a meal that takes a long time like roasting a turkey, baking a roast or simmering. Check the stove or oven frequently. Consider putting timers in different rooms so that you can hear them over music, football games, and party chatter.
  • Stay alert and focused when cooking. To help minimize the risk of injury, avoid cooking when drinking alcohol or if you’re sleepy.
  • Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers and towels away from the cooking area. 

Kids should stay 3 feet away from stovetops, as well as from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, or gravy could cause serious burns.

Frying turkeys at Thanksgiving has become more popular in recent years. However, NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers, as they can lead to devastating burns, other injuries, and the destruction of property due to the extensive amount of hot oil used with fryers. NFPA urges those who prefer fried turkey to look instead for grocery stores, specialty food retailers and restaurants that sell deep fried turkeys.

Additional tips and resources can be found on NFPA’s Thanksgiving webpage. General cooking safety information including safety tip sheets, infographics, videos and more can be found on NFPA’s Cooking Fire Safety Central webpage.

The “Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment” report also provides home fire cooking statistics for other holidays such as Christmas, Christmas Eve, and the New Year.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resource, please visit the NFPA press room.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Smoke/Fire

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When unexpected damages occur to your home and your emotions are running high, it is important to remember that time is of the essence. Your first priority after reporting any claim is to immediately curtail any further damage to your property. If the damage is substantial, make sure to ask your insurance carrier if using a disaster restoration company is the best option to help you during the recovery/claims process. If approved, most restoration companies will work directly with your carrier to make sure you recapture your peace of mind.

In part two of a three part series, here is some practical advice from the team over at ServiceMaster Clean Restoration on what to do when mitigating smoke & fire damage to your home.

Emergency Damage Control Tips: Smoke/Fire

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not touch anything with your bare hands. Oil from your hands can permeate upholstery, walls, and woodwork, thus causing additional damage.
  • Do not wash walls. Incorrect cleaning could compound the soot residue.
  • Do not attempt to clean carpets or upholstered furniture.
  • Do not use electrical appliances until having them checked.
  • Do not use ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet.

What to Do:

  • Take detailed photos and keep receipts for all of your costs during the recovery process.
  • Corrosive byproducts can cause irreversible etching in as few as 72 hours. If approved, call a professional.
  • If the temperature is above 60 degrees, air out the house to reduce smoke odor.
  • Clean Formica, chrome, porcelain, and aluminum fixtures to prevent tarnishing or etching.
  • Change the air filter on your furnace if it uses forced hot air.
  • Tape damp cheesecloth over returns and supply registers to capture loose soot in the air.
  • Discard any open food packages.
  • If the electricity is off, clean out the refrigerator and leave doors propped open.
  • Send clothing with heavy smoke damage to a qualified restoration dry cleaner.

If you need to report a claim and want a list of disaster recovery companies in the Greater Charleston-Metro Area, click HERE.

 

-Taylor Agency