Probably all the reasons behind lab fires, too. Credit: City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management
"The average number of reported residential fires on Thanksgiving Day is more than double the average number of fires on all other days," says the City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. "Unattended cooking is the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths."
To help keep your Thanksgiving fire free, here are some safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Never leave food on the stove or in the oven unattended.
- Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing and long sleeves that can easily catch fire while cooking.
- Keep children away from the cooking area or watch them closely if they insist on being mini chefs.
- Clean and keep surface areas free from grease build up.
- Keep flammable items like potholders and paper or plastic bags away from the stove and oven.
- Turn pan handles toward the back of the stove to prevent accidental knock overs.
- Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in the kitchen as well as on each level of the home, and inside and outside bedrooms.
- Consider installing a photoelectric alarm because it is less likely to nuisance alarm during cooking.
And be particularly careful if you're frying a turkey, CPSC says: