TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –  According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home cooking fires nationwide. This Thanksgiving, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis warns Floridians of the dangers associated with turkey frying and issued 3 top tips to avoid fire-related accidents.
 
CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. In 2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,570 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Following a few Thanksgiving fire safety tips can ensure your holidays don’t turn into a tragedy.”
 
3 Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips
 
1. Take caution when frying turkeys. If you fry a turkey, do it away from the home. Put the turkey fryer the farthest you can from your home and keep it on a level surface. Make sure to thaw the bird completely when frying as ice or water mixed with hot oil is a major fire hazard. Also, don’t overfill the fryer as it can cause oil to spill over the sides of the pot and ignite.

2. Monitor children while cooking. Keep a close eye on children while cooking as the stove will be hot and kids should stay at least three feet away from appliances, hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

3. Keep a fire extinguisher close. A Class K (kitchen type) or grease-rated extinguisher is the best option. Never leave the stove or fryer unattended. Turn in handles of pots on the stove to avoid scalding hot food from being knocked over or spilling.