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Have a Safe, Fire-Free Holiday Season | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties
11/17/2023 (Permalink)
Fire damage in your home? Not for long with SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties on the case!
Is there anything better than the holiday season? Regardless of which ones you celebrate, there is bound to be some pretty incredible food involved. While the comfort food of the season is certainly a highlight to look forward to, the possibility of home fires increases dramatically this time of year.
A vast majority of home fires start in the kitchen, which is one of the reasons they are so much more prevalent during the holiday season. The good news is you can truly have your cake and eat it, too, when you take preventive action to keep your home safe.
When you are getting ready to spend time cooking, you start by getting your space prepared, right? Cleaning countertops and preparing ingredients is important, but so is making sure your space is free from fire hazards.
Keep flammable items like pot holders, towels and oven mitts away from your stove and other appliances that will be warm. A hot bubble of grease popping or a spark coming from your cooking can catch these items on fire quickly. Watch out for wooden utensils as well.
Be aware of what you are wearing, too. Working in the kitchen isn’t the best time to don the Christmas sweater with the fuzzy balls all over it, or even that fun apron. Anything with loose strings, dangling items or hanging fabric can catch fire and should be avoided while you cook.
A good rule of thumb when you cook year-round is “if it’s hot, stay near the pot.” Never walk away from the kitchen while food is cooking or your appliances are still hot. Kitchen fires can get out of control in a matter of seconds, so if something does happen, you need to be close by in order to react as quickly as possible.
If you are planning on deep-frying a turkey this year, plan on taking a few extra safety precautions. Read all the instructions on your deep fryer thoroughly, and never overfill the oil.
Make sure your turkey is completely thawed—even a partially frozen turkey can lead to oil spatter that will ignite anything it lands on. Cook on a level surface that is clear of flammable materials and make sure kids and pets can’t get near the fryer.
You might not be able to prevent all fires, but when you take as many precautionary steps as possible, you can reduce the possibility—and the severity—of home fires.
Another ideal step to take year-round is ensuring that your home has enough safety measures in place. There should be a working fire alarm right outside of your kitchen. Check it ahead of the holiday cooking to ensure it is ready to go.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in order to quickly put out flames before they grow big. You should also keep a lid for your pots and pans nearby to smother out grease that catches fire.
Stay safe so you can enjoy every moment of the holiday season. If you do suffer a fire, call us. We can handle restoration day or night so that you can get back to celebrating.
House fires can happen in the blink of an eye. Contact us for a quick restoration day or night!