U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging the public to stay safe on Thanksgiving and to "stand by your pan" while cooking. The agency says that the possibility of fires triples on Thanksgiving Day. "If you are frying, grilling or broiling food, stay in the kitchen." says CPSC Chair Inez Tenenbaum. "Not following this advice can be a recipe for disaster on Thanksgiving and throughout the year." Tenenbaum says that fires in the home caused by cooking accounted for more than 40% of all annual unintentional residential fires each year from 2009 to 2011.
In addition to monitoring cooking food, CPSC suggests these tips to help prevent home fires while cooking:
- Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes and long sleeves near ranges or ovens.
- Turn pan handles toward the back of the stove.
- Monitor children closely so they don't come into contact with cooking food.
- In the event of flames while cooking, cover the pan with a lid to smother the flames. Never pour water or flour on a fire.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
For more fire safety tips, visit
CPSC's website or
NFPA's video on Thanksgiving Day safety.
