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Fire-Free All Holiday Season | SERVPRO of Houston County
11/17/2023 (Permalink)
Fire damage in your home? Not for long with SERVPRO of Houston County on the case!
The holiday season has returned, and no matter how you celebrate or when you celebrate, there is bound to be some pretty good food during this time of year. If you are the main chef when it comes to making all the classic family dishes, you’ll need to ensure you are cooking safely to prevent a potential fire.
House fires increase during the holiday season every year, and a good number of them start in the kitchen. That doesn’t mean you should ditch all the old recipes and order a deli platter, instead with a few extra precautions, you can serve the meal you want while enjoying a safe home.
When you head into the kitchen to start preparing the meal, take a few steps to prepare your space as well. Kitchen fires often move faster because of clutter.
Keep pot holders, wooden cooking utensils, towels and holiday decorations away from any sources of heat. A single oil bubble or a quick spark can catch material on fire and start a spread of flames throughout your kitchen.
Think about what you are wearing as well. Skip the fun apron with the dangling strings and opt for clothes that are slightly tight-fitting without a lot of frills. Loose fabric, hanging decoration and even long sleeves can present a fire hazard while you cook.
It is always a good idea to stay close by any time you cook. Whether you are baking, boiling or grilling, a fire can start in a matter of seconds and spread just as fast. Stay in the kitchen so that you can take fast action to put out any flames should they spark.
If you are planning on frying a turkey for one of your celebrations, take a few extra steps to keep everything safe. Make sure the kids and your pets know to stay away while the fryer is on, and follow any safety guidelines laid out by the manufacturer.
Put your fryer on a level surface, and avoid putting too much oil in. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed—even a partially frozen turkey will cause the oil to splatter and pop, creating a burn and fire risk.
Fires may not be totally preventable, but the more you do to stay safe, the lower your risks will be. Make sure your home has plenty of protective measures in place as well.
There should be a smoke detector on every level of your home, including one either in your kitchen or very near it. Get into the habit of checking smoke detector batteries monthly, but also check the one near the kitchen right before your day of cooking for the season.
A small fire extinguisher is another helpful piece of equipment to keep near the kitchen. It should be somewhere you can grab in a hurry, and make sure a few of your family members know how to properly use it. Be sure to keep pot and pan lids at arms’ reach as well so that you can smother any grease fires that might pop up.
Make your home as safe as it is cozy this season. If you do experience a fire of any size, call us. We are available around the clock to handle your damage quickly. We will get your home put back together so that you can get back to enjoying the magic of the season.
House fires can happen in the blink of an eye. Contact us for a quick restoration day or night!