Thanksgiving Fire Safety and Damage Cleanup

11/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Toms River wishes everyone a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving Day!

Can anyone believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away? It doesn't seem possible because it always feels like New Jersey goes from a 70 degree beach day to a below freezing day just in time for Turkey Day. 

This year's Thanksgiving Day will be a little different then we are used to because of Covid. The Patch and New Jersey's Governor are warning against large gatherings. Even still, most of us are still planning on cooking for ourselves or a few family and friends. 

Remember that Thanksgiving is a peak day for cooking fires. Here are the top 10 safety tips according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

The NFPA reports that households that use electric ranges have a higher risk of cooking fires and associated losses than those using gas ranges with unattended cooking was the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties. They also state that more than one-quarter of the people killed by cooking fires were sleeping at the time. More than half of the non-fatal injuries occurred when people tried to control the fire themselves.

Despite our best efforts fires still occur. If you find yourself with fire, smoke or soot damage, call SERVPRO of Toms River at 732-349-9898 to make it “Like it never even happened.”