ARKANSAS, USA — The American Red Cross Northwest Arkansas Chapter offers helpful measures to take to avoid a cooking fire when preparing your Thanksgiving feast this year.
“Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, home fire injuries, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths,” Julie Brown, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas American Red Cross, said. “Most happen because people leave cooking food unattended. We want everyone to have a safe, enjoyable holiday, so don’t leave the kitchen while you’re cooking.”
Here are some tips from the Red Cross to ensure a fire-free holiday:
- Do not leave your food unattended when frying, grilling, or broiling.
- Always use a timer to know when the food is ready.
- Refrain from wearing loose clothing that could potentially touch the stove while cooking.
- Keep children and animals at least three feet away from stoves, grills, or ovens.
- Keep anything that could catch on fire away from heated cooking areas.
- Prevent grease buildup on cooking surfaces by frequently cleaning cooking surfaces.
- Consider adding a fire extinguisher to your kitchen.
- Ensure all kitchen appliances are turned off before leaving your home or heading to bed.
The Red Cross urges everyone to have smoke alarms installed on each level of their home and near their kitchen and sleeping areas. Upkeep the alarms by replacing the batteries each year.
Contact the Northwest Arkansas Red Cross if you need assistance with purchasing or installing alarms if you cannot do so yourself.
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