Practise fire safety for Thanksgiving

As you prepare for the long weekend festivities, remember - don't put fire safety on the back burner! Ensure everyone in your household can celebrate Thanksgiving safely and enjoy your feast without worry by following fire prevention tips from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS).

When you are cooking, remember to:

• stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away even for a moment and remove all items from the stovetop when you are finished cooking.
• avoid all distractions and focus on the task in front of you.
• avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while cooking as it can catch on fire.
• keep flammable items - like oven mitts, cooking utensils, dish cloths, paper towels and potholders - a safe distance from the stove.
• keep pets and young kids away from the stove and turn pot handles away from the stove's edge to avoid them being knocked over accidentally.
• use a heat-resistant surface to cool down hot cookware.
• keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• ensure your home has working smoke alarms and test all alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button.
• develop a home escape plan so everyone in your household knows what to do if an emergency occurs.

In case of a grease or oil fire, smother the flames by completely covering the pan or deep fryer with a large metal lid, cooking sheet or flat tray. Never use water to put out a grease or oil fire- it will cause the fire to spread.

Planning to light candles on your Thanksgiving dinner table? Always use non-flammable candle holders and place candles where they will not be knocked down, away from paper decorations, tablecloths and napkins. Never leave candles unattended and keep them out of reach of children and pets. A better alternative is to use battery-powered flameless candles.

For more information and fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire. You can also visit the City of Vaughan's YouTube channel to watch a kitchen safety video from VFRS.

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