Serving fire safety for Thanksgiving
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Avoid distractions while cooking and virtually celebrating today
When making your Thanksgiving meal, you might get distracted by the needs of young children and pets, the television, music or other loved ones living in your household. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in Ontario, so it’s important to stay alert in the kitchen today. The City of Vaughan is reminding citizens to focus on the task in front of you – like prepping a turkey dinner! – to avoid a potential fire hazard in the home.
For a fire-free holiday, follow these cooking safety tips from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service to ensure your meal goes off without a hitch:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away.
- Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while cooking as it can catch fire.
- Keep young kids away from the stove.
- Turn pot handles away from the stove's edge to avoid them getting knocked off.
- Ensure a proper-fitting pot lid is nearby to smother flames in the event of a fire.
- Keep flammable items – oven mitts, cooking utensils, dish cloths, paper towels and potholders – a safe distance from the stove.
- Have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
- Remove all items from the stovetop when cooking is done.
- Have a working smoke alarm and a home escape plan just in case an incident occurs.
Festive decorations, like candles, are another thing to be cautious of. If using candles, never leave them in a room unattended or with children and pets alone. Make sure to place candles a safe distance from flammable items, such as paper decorations, tablecloths and napkins.
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