Fire Crews Offer Tips For A Safe Turkey Day

For many, Thanksgiving is a time for cooking, and safety experts say it’s a time to be extra careful when preparing the big meal.

A little precaution, they say, goes a long way.

Local fire departments say Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days for cooking fires. And there are some safety reminders.

If you plan on deep frying a turkey — do it outside. Don’t overfill the pot with oil and make sure whatever you put in is thawed.

In the kitchen, if there’s a grease fire, don’t try to put it out with water — that could create a fireball.

If there’s a small fire, put on oven mitts, carefully put a lid on the pot or pan and turn off the gas.

And make sure your oven doesn’t have any grease build-up.

“We recommend that if you’re cooking in the kitchen, you need to be in the kitchen and keep an eye on what you’re cooking,” said Battalion Chief Robert Van Nortrick with the Cathedral City Fire Department.

And just in case of an emergency — it’s a good time to make sure your smoke detectors are working.