“Watch What You Heat.”

This was the Fire Prevention Week slogan a few years ago and is most appropriate this time of year. It will soon be Thanksgiving, the start of the holiday season, which means celebrations and good eating. Many will spend hours in the kitchen preparing the holiday meals. The Croton-on-Hudson Volunteer Fire Department would like to take this time to remind you about kitchen safety.

Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires in the United States and on Thanksgiving the number of home fires nearly doubles. Most kitchen fires happen when cooking is left unattended. Keep an eye on the food on the stove so that if something goes wrong you'll be able to respond quickly. Keep the cooking area clear of hazards such as potholders, knickknacks or other combustibles that may get too close to the burners.

Heating cooking oil can be particularly dangerous if you heat it to quickly, so watch the temperature. With double broilers, make sure that both units are clear of stored objects. Keep pot handles turned in and to the sides of the stove. If you are wearing loose clothing, be particularly careful when reaching over the stove. Keep a close eye on children while cooking. Children should get into the habit of a "kid-free zone" around stoves, ovens, microwaves or other cooking equipment.

Clean and wipe all appliances when you’re done. If you do receive a burn, the best first aid is still cold water to keep the burn from becoming worse. Remember an unsafe holiday will not be a happy holiday. If you haven’t cleaned your oven lately, you may want to do it before Thanksgiving morning to avoid an unplanned test of your smoke detectors.

If you are using a deep fryer to cook your turkey, remember to follow the manufacturers’ directions. These can be a problem if there is not enough room left for the rise in cooking oil when the turkey is put into the pot. Over flowing or splashing oil can then be ignited by the propane cooking flame. Another potential hazard is if a frozen or partially frozen turkey is placed into the pot. The resulting steam explosion could also cause splattering and cause thermal burns or a fire.

From the our family to your family, have a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving.