Fire officials offer holiday fire safety tips
Unfortunately, Thanksgiving and Christmas are a time when serious fires can occur. This is why Quitman fire officials are urging residents to take steps to make their holiday “fire safe” this year.
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Fire officials offer holiday fire safety tips
Unfortunately, Thanksgiving and Christmas are a time when serious fires can occur. This is why Quitman fire officials are urging residents to take steps to make their holiday "fire safe" this year.
Quitman Fire Department Administrator Gary Simpkins says cooking fires are easily preventable, especially of proper fire safety is used and offers these tips for safer cooking during the holiday.
When deep frying turkeys, make sure the fryer cannot tip over, a major cause of most fires.
Fry outdoors, away from the buildings and other combustible items. Never fry indoors. Keep children and pets away while frying. Follow instructions on what size turkey should be used, how it should be cooked and what type of oil to use. Never leave the fryer unattended. Wear fry gloves; regular oven mittens may not be insulated enough. Splashing oil can cause a flash fire and serious burns, so be careful.
Other holiday safety tips include: Make sure you have a properly operating smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the home.
In case of a stove fire, shut off the stove and cover the burning pan with a lid or use a fire extinguisher. Do not throw water, salt, flour, or any other substance on the fire; these substances can cause the fire to flare up. Do not try to move a burning pan outside.
If there is a fire inside the oven, shut off the oven and leave the door shut. Call 911 and report the fire and leave the home until the firefighters arrive.
If using candles for decorations, never leave burning candles unattended and keep combustible items away.
If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is open and the chimney flue is clear to allow smoke and gases to escape properly. Also, make sure the chimney is swept and clean before starting a fire. Chimney's should be cleaned before each winter season by a professional chimney sweep.
When finishing cooking for the evening, make a final inspection of your home and ensure that all appliances, especially the stove, are turned off. If you used outside appliances, make sure the gas is off.
