ECFR Reminds Residents to Practice Fire Safety this Thanksgiving

Escambia County Fire Rescue reminds residents to stay safe when cooking on Thanksgiving, which is the peak day for home cooking fires across the United States. In Escambia County, cooking fires account for 62 percent of all house fires. 

Follow these tips to help prevent fires and to be better prepared in the event of a fire:

• Always have working smoke detectors in your home. For information about obtaining a home smoke detector, call 850-595-HERO (4376). City of Pensacola residents may call 850-436-5200 for smoke detector installation assistance.
• Have an escape plan and know two ways out of every room in your home.
• In the event of a fire, call 911 even if you think the fire is out. 
• Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the room, turn the stove off first. 
• Do not panic if a pan catches on fire. Place a lid over the pan, turn the heat source off and let the pan cool. 
• If a fire occurs in your oven, leave the door closed and turn the oven off to prevent the fire from spreading. 
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove. 
• Never wear loose clothing while cooking. 
• Keep the area around the stove clear of anything that can burn, including packaging, paper towels and dishcloths.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so you don’t bump them.

Turkey Frying Safety Tips

• Use a fryer with thermostat controls. This will ensure the oil does not become overheated.
• Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the bird will cause the oil to splatter.
• Don’t overfill the pot with oil. If you do, the oil will overflow when you add the turkey causing a fire hazard.
• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the fryer.
• Always use the fryer outdoors.

Fire Statistics

• Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires.
• Two-thirds of home cooking fires started when food or other cooking materials caught fire.
• Clothing was the item first ignited in less than one percent of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 18 percent of the cooking fire deaths.
• Ranges accounted for the largest share (62 percent) of home cooking fire incidents.
• More than half (55 percent) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
• Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Escambia County Fire Rescue proudly operates as a combination fire service, utilizing the talents and diversities of volunteer and career firefighting personnel. Career personnel operate in 14 stations throughout the county. 13 stations work a 24/48-hour shift and one station works Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteer firefighters operate out of numerous stations throughout Escambia County. Escambia County Fire Rescue also provides other emergency services such as hazardous materials response, special operations and ALS non-transport. Learn more about how to join Escambia County Fire Rescue. Follow Escambia County Fire Rescue on Facebook.