MARYLAND — There’s been a lot of talk about how to keep you and your family safe from COVID-19 this Thanksgiving but the Maryland Fire Marshal reminds Marylanders not to forget about basic fire safety.
Even scaled-down, socially-distant celebrations still come with fire risk. “Holidays are a time of celebration. Please follow these simple guidelines to ensure a fire-safe Thanksgiving Day meal,” states Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci.
Start with the basics. Make sure all smoke alarms are working properly. Test them out before you start cooking.
While experts don’t recommend having houseguests due to COVID-19, if you do, make sure they know your fire safety plan. That includes all of the exits and where to meet up should have to evacuate the house.
Watch Your Food
Keep an eye on the stove. Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of holiday fires. If you’re cooking, stay with the food.
Social distancing means it’s best to keep others out of the kitchen but fire experts say to keep kids and pets away from hot food and drink. Arrange for activities outside of the kitchen to keep them busy.
Should a pan catch fire, immediately cover it with a lid to smother the fire. Keep oven mitts, packages, towels, and anything else that can catch fire away from the stove.
As always, don’t leave candles, matches, or lighters where kids can get their hands on them. If you’re not used to having children in the house, it’s important to remember to move things out of their reach.
Frying Safety
Outdoor cooking and celebrating is encouraged by health experts this year, but if you’re frying a turkey, you need to be careful.
Keep it away from all structures on a level surface. Make sure the turkey is thawed completely before cooking. Don’t overfill the pot with oil. And just like inside cooking, don’t leave the pot unattended.
And always keep a charged fire extinguisher on hand.