ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
According to the National Fire Protection Association, on Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2022, reflecting a 399 percent increase over the daily average.
With an expected increase of time in kitchens throughout the U.S. next week preparing the big meal, Liberal Fire Chief Kelly Kirk said there are some precautions people should take in order to stay safe.
“Thanksgiving Day, nationally, is the highest-rated day for cooking fires in the U.S. followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. A lot of the fires we've experienced locally have to do with buildup of grease and oils and other dirt prior to all the preparations, which can either really smoke a place up or legitimately catch fire,” Kirk said. “We always encourage people to make sure their cooking space is clean and cleared up and actually ready to handle all the different preparations that will be going on, that's a small thing people might not think about that actually goes a long way. Unattended cooking is always a leading cause of fires anywhere, so we always tell people, once you start cooking, remain on site and don't walk away from what you're doing because it could very quickly turn into a hazardous situation. We also always encourage people to keep flammable materials away from whatever heat source they're using and keep any towels and/or paper towels away from the stovetop. Any pots and pans with boiling water or gravy is a scalding hazard, so keep them out of range especially with children – when we teach fire safety at the elementary schools, something we always emphasize is to keep a certain distance away so they don't risk grabbing something that could hurt them. There's also always extra electricity being used, such as with electric knives and other appliances, so be sure to also keep in mind not overloading electrical outlets and things like that. Working smoke alarms are also extremely important because the sooner you know about a fire, the sooner you can get out and get safe, and it's important for any guests to know where to go and what to do if an emergency situation does arise.”
As cliché as it may sound, Kirk said, it is those short and simple precautions that can help make all the difference.
“It only takes a few minutes to make sure everything in the kitchen is cleaned up and cleared away, and it doesn't take too much extra time to plan out where everything needs to be in order to make things more safe and efficient,” Kirk said. “And if anyone wants to do some extra research or get some more advice, nearly everyone has a smartphone, so I encourage people to visit the Web sites for FEMA and the National Fire Prevention Agency and see what they have to say. I personally go to those sites every year to keep up with what is being advised, and there have been a few times when I've seen something new, so it's a good idea to look at those Web sites. We always hope for quiet, but it doesn't always quite turn out that way. Like I said before, Thanksgiving Day is the highest day for cooking-related fires, and around here, there's always the normal pace of things because we respond to all the EMS calls and vehicle accidents, etc., so that doesn't really change. I don't know if we necessarily see a higher incidence of fires around Thanksgiving Day, but when we do have those situations, it's typically related to something going on in the kitchen.”
Kirk also offered advice for those preparing to deep fry their Thanksgiving turkey.
“Deep frying Thanksgiving turkeys has definitely become a trend the past few years, and if you're thinking of doing that, make sure you're well prepared and are actually capable of doing that,” Kirk said. “It's a great way to enjoy a turkey, but it does require some extra precautions, and I hope people do a little extra research beforehand about how to do those preparations. Don't let the oil or grease overflow from the fryer you're using, and we advise doing a dry run by first putting the turkey in a pot of water and marking where the water ends so you know how much oil to put in so it doesn't overflow. Also, don't fry the turkey in your garage or in the house, find a clear and open space outside where you can set up so in case something does happen, your house won't be harmed. We would also emphasize DO NOT put a frozen turkey in oil because that will cause huge problems since again, water and hot grease don't mix very well. We recommend people talk to vendors who sell that stuff, they can usually provide some guidance and advice on the type of cooker you'll need, the type of oil you should use and all of that. Many people who do deep fry their turkeys have done it before and have their process that works for them, but if you're new to it, do some research beforehand and make sure you have everything you need.”
Kirk added there are some rather simple reasons why Thanksgiving Day carries more hazard than other days, and reiterated his hope for people to take precautions in order to stay safe.
“A lot of it has to do with the fact that you're preparing very large meals for a large number of people. A lot of those people are guests from out of town and not used to being in your home and with larger gatherings, especially if there are children around, it's easy for them to get lost in the shuffle of everything and potentially get into mischief,” Kirk said. “If a situation arises, the first step is to get everyone out of the house and to safety. Property and things can be replaced, but not people, so get everyone out and away. Oven fires can happen, and if you have that happen, leave the door shut and turn off the heat so it can smother itself out. If you're working with something with grease, have a lid ready for that pot and if something happens, put the lid on it and let it smother itself. However, if it's a situation that's out of your control, call 911 and we'll respond and help as best we can. Like I say every year, we always hope for quiet and for our guys to not have a lot to respond to, but we're always prepared to respond if the need arises. We don't really staff any differently than our regular days, but the guys not on duty that day stay close to their radios and are on call if we need them.”
Overall, Kirk said, he and the rest of the LFD staff hope for a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday for the community.
“Like I always say, if people will just take those simple precautions and take a little extra time to have a plan, everything should be okay and everyone should be safe,” Kirk said. “Be careful, be extra aware, and we hope everyone ultimately has a safe and happy Thanksgiving.”
