As families across the city prepare for a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast, the Los Angeles Fire Department is dishing out a serving of caution along with the cranberry sauce. Alarming stats reveal that Thanksgiving is not merely a day for gratitude, but it also has a sinister side, as it sees 3 to 4 times more fires than any other day of the year according to the LAFD.
The heart of these festivities, the kitchen, becomes a hub of hazards amidst the holiday hustle. Consequently, the LAFD has provided a smorgasbord of safety tips in an effort to keep your turkey in the oven and fire trucks out of your driveway. "Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove-top so you can keep an eye on the food." as mentioned by the Los Angeles Fire Department website.
Keeping the little ones safe is also high on the fire prevention menu. The LAFD urges parents to ensure that "children stay away from hot food and liquids" to avoid the risk of serious burns. They also caution against the turkey frying trend, which can turn a backyard into a blaze if not handled with the utmost care. Per a sobering rundown provided on their website, turkey fryers pose numerous dangers, including the risk of tipping, overheating, and spilling flammable oil.
Offering more than just warnings, the LAFD also serves up preventive measures for all would-be fry masters. These include using turkey fryers outdoors, on sturdy surfaces far from combustible materials and ensuring that the turkey is thoroughly thawed to avoid a catastrophic mix of oil and water. Yet, they don't stop there. "Make sure your smoke alarms are working" they remind, a point as basic as it is vital in an instruction set found here. Even with all these precautions in place, accidents can still occur, so having an all-purpose fire extinguisher at the ready is a must.
