Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips From Alpena City Fire Department

Thanksgiving is on Thursday, and with just a couple of days left to prepare for a holiday full of food and family, officials are urging the community to put safety on the menu. With burns being the most common injury seen on the holiday, there are a few ways to set yourself up for an injury free Thanksgiving Day. Andy Marceau, Alpena City Fire Department community risk reduction captain, said “Obviously, when you’re cooking in the kitchen, keep people out who don’t need to be in the kitchen: kids, pets, so you don’t trip over them or kids knock over a pan of hot water or hot grease while you’re cooking.”

If your pan gets too hot, there is potential it can start a fire. “Have lids readily available, that is the best way to stop a grease fire,” said Marceau. “Put a lid on it and pull it off the burner.”

If you’re planning on using an electric cooking appliance such as an air fryer or slow cooker, it is advised to follow manufacture operating instructions and unplug them when they are not in use. With the rise in popularity of frying turkeys, there are extra steps of precaution to take. “Please move those turkey fires out away from the buildings, preferably off decks,” said Marceau. “Because people tend to maybe drop them in or maybe the bird is still frozen a little bit or wet and when that happens, that can cause a chain reaction and you can have a boil over and it could set something on fire.” Having safety at the front of mind is key for having a happy holiday season. Marceau said, “Just enjoy your family and friends, but think about safety first.”