(KFSM) - You're probably getting ready to cook that big Thanksgiving feast in the next day or two. But before you turn on your oven there are some safety tips you should keep in mind.
We talked to the Fort Smith Fire Department on how people can learn to prepare their ovens for the holidays. "The intial advice to people that are going to be doing a lot of cooking is first of all to take the time to make sure all your appliances your going to be using for cooking are clean," said Fire Marshal Tommy Bishop.
"In that process of the cleaning, make sure the cleaning surfaces are clean," said Bishop. "Make sure your ovens are clean and also make sure the filter is changed." When your done cooking, you also want to take the time to clean up your oven and stove to prepare for the next meal.
"Make sure that any grease that accumulated in the vent itself is also clean," according to Bishop. "We need to look out for the next meal because the same thing could happen with the recurrent process if cleaning is not done on a regular basis."
According to the fire department, they like to see everyone have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. If you don't have that, you can use baking soda. "Please don't use flour," said Bishop. "If you use flour on a grease fire your definetely going to make things lots worse."
If you want to inspect your oven to be sure it's ready to go. "Any cooking that you do has a tendency to leave a residue carmelized liquids that very despicable to firing when it gets hot enough," said Bishop.
Most fires happen from previous cooking, according to Bishop. "Always be mindful of your burners," said Bishop. "Be mindful of their going to be on the on or of position."
If you have any questions on how to prepare your oven, call your local appliance shop or fire department to make sure you have a safe holiday.