ST. LOUIS — On Thanksgiving Day, there are four times more home fires reported around the country than on any other typical day, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
This year, we want you and your family to stay safe.
Leaving food unattended is what causes a majority of fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Taking your eye off your food while it's cooking is the number one cause of injuries and deaths this time of year.
This year, eliminate your distractions. Keep your kids and pets out of the kitchen. Be sure to clear your path of rugs and other things to make sure you don’t trip, and accidentally burn yourself or others.
Let’s talk turkey:
If you’re baking it, don’t put it in the bird in the oven and leave the house. It could be up in flames in a matter of minutes.
If you like a crispier taste and want to fry your turkey, you should know know, that comes with some fire risks.
We met with the St. Louis Fire Department to talk about the most common mistakes they see with turkey fryers.
If you’re frying a turkey take it outside, at least 10 feet away from any nearby buildings.
St. Louis Fire Department reminds you you to not fry a turkey on a wooden deck or in a garage. If something goes wrong, hot and flammable grease can set those areas on fire.
Some other tips:
Thaw your turkey completely before you fry it. Oil and ice don’t mix, and that hot oil is going to splash out of the pot and possibly onto something flammable.
Don’t put too much oil in the pot. If you do, it’s going to spill out and burst into flames once you lower the turkey in. This could cause a dangerous grease fire.
The same thing can happen on your stovetop. I asked St. Louis Fire Department what you should do if you start a grease fire in your kitchen.
Chief Dennis Jenkerson said, "It’s very dangerous, the grease is very hot and anything you put anything into it can cause it to overflow and come out of the pot and cause other issues. So a fire extinguisher is always your best way to put out your grease fire.”
So, here are the dos and don'ts of putting out a grease fire:
DON'T:
Pour water.
Use Flour, baking powder, or sugar. It's a popular wives tale, but, those items are combustible and can cause a small explosion.
DO:
Smother with a pot lid.
Turn off heat. Call 911 .
Always have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Now, after you finish cooking with this oil and grease, how you get rid of it safely?
St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District tells our newsroom, they’re seeing more plumbing problems in our area, and Thanksgiving always brings a spike in clogged pipes.
The agency is reminding you to cool your leftover grease, can it or put it in a jar, and trash the grease in order to prevent pouring it down the drain.
Things like grease, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing and can congeal in your pipes once you wash them down the drain.
Decoration Fire Hazards:
A survey by Today’s Homeowner says around 70 percent of Americans plan to decorate for the holidays during Thanksgiving week. But some of that tinsel can be *tinder* for dangerous fires.
Time to deck the halls. But we want the season to be bright, not blazing.
The National Fire Protection Association reports Christmas trees, lights, and outdoor decorations cause a majority of house fires during this time of year and December has the highest numbers of home fires for this reason.
But there are ways you can reduce your fire risk.
Let’s talk trees.
If you’re buying a fresh Christmas tree, the greener, the better. Dry Christmas trees next to hot lights and plastic decorations make perfect conditions for a fire. Water your tree every day and take it down when it dries out.
You could just go with an artificial tree instead, but get one that’s flame resistant, and keep it away from heaters and sockets.
Here’s what else to look out for.,
- Before you put up your string lights, check them. Look for frayed wires, cracked sockets, and wear and tear.
- Turn off your decorations when you leave home or go to sleep.
- Do not overload circuits: Know what can be plugged into where by reading the instruction manuals of your pluggable items. Too many plugs in one socket can cause electrical shorts that result in fires.
Now is the time to make sure your smoke detectors are working properly. If they need to be replaced, St. Louis Fire Department will help.
We met with St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson. He tells our reporter, “When it starts beeping and telling you the battery is low, we change it. This is the only thing the St. Louis Fire Department installs. So if you have smoke detector in your house that has AAA batteries or 9-volt batteries, call us, we’ll take those down and put new ones in for you.”
To get your smoke detector replaced, you must be a St. Louis city resident. You can call the STLFD Smoke Detector Hotline at 314-533-3406.
Chief Jenkerson also tells us, this time of year people love to light decorative candles and those start a significant number of fires in the city.
He reminds you, if you leave a room, blow out the candles and never have them lit around kids and pets.