ANDOVER– Chief Michael B. Mansfield and Andover Fire Rescue would like to provide safety tips to ensure residents stay safe and prevent home fires while cooking this season.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the leading cause of home fire and fire injuries.
“Preparing a holiday meal, big or small, can be a overwhelming, and we want to remind residents to pay close attention while cooking to reduce the risk of fires,” Chief Mansfield said. “It’s better to take your time and closely monitor your turkey, side dishes, desserts and so on. Most importantly, never leave the room while cooking.”
To prevent cooking home fires, Andover Fire Rescue wishes to share the following tips from the NFPA so families can prepare meals safely:
- Never leave anything cooking unattended.
- Stay home when cooking, and be attentive to cooking appliances.
- Keep children and pets away from the stove. Kids and pets should be kept three feet away from the stove.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee can cause serious burns.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
- Keep the kitchen and dining room floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags while cooking or handling food.
- Test your smoke alarms and make sure their batteries are replaced if needed.
If you have more questions about cooking safely in your home please contact the Andover Fire Department at 978-475-1281.
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