Fire Marshal offers holiday cooking tips

State Fire Marshal’s information

The holiday season is here, and State Fire Marshal Larry L. Flowers reminds Ohioans of some safety tips that can help during this time of the year. Many Ohio residents will be cooking for family and guests, and Thanksgiving Day can increase the likelihood of such a fire.

“Cooking is the leading cause of all fires in Ohio and the United States, and the biggest problem is unattended cooking,” says State Fire Marshal Larry L. Flowers. “Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking. If no one is watching, things can get out of control fast.”

Marshal Flowers also offered the following tips:

Cooking Safety

• Have a safety zone: keep children and pets three feet away from the stove and oven.
• Don’t get overwhelmed. Those cooking multiple dishes should ask for help.
• Never hold a child or pet while cooking.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, towels and anything flammable away from the stovetop.
• Clean food and grease from burners and the stovetop.
• For those who must use a turkey fryer, keep it outside, away from buildings and other structures, such as garages, carports, and decks. Never leave the turkey fryer unattended. The turkey should be thawed prior to frying. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Keep an ABC multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water on a grease fire. Water and grease are a dangerous combination. Water can cause hot grease to splatter.
• For those who are cooking and a fire starts, turn off the heat source, put a lid on it, and get out of the home!

In addition, Marshal Flowers encourages Ohioans to have a working smoke alarm installed on every level of the home and inside and outside each bedroom or sleeping area. Each member of a household should know two ways out of a home and practice those fire escape plans twice a year. Guests should be aware of the escape plan and the location of any fire extinguishers in case there is an emergency.