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Celebrating the Holidays, Fire-Free | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett
11/17/2023 (Permalink)
Fire damage in your home? Not for long with SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett on the case!
The holiday season has arrived again, which means it is time to gather the family and celebrate. No matter when or how you celebrate the season, there is a good chance it is going to involve some really incredible food. Of course, to have incredible food, you have to have incredible cooking—which can create not-so-incredible fire risks.
A large majority of home fires start in the kitchen, and that number tends to spike during the holiday season. When you take some preventive measures, though, you can enjoy your celebrations and all the food they bring with them without a single worry.
When you head into the kitchen, there is likely a good bit of prep work to do before the cooking ever begins. While you clean your counters, make sure to remove any clutter, too. Many fires start simply because there is something too close to a heat source.
Keep pot holders, oven mitts, and towels away from the stove. Watch out for wooden cooking utensil, making sure they are set far enough away that a quick spark can’t reach them. A single pop of oil or spark from a pan can set a big blaze quickly.
Think about what you are wearing when you are ready to get the cooking started as well. Skip clothing with loose fabrics, hanging strings or dangling decorations. The kids won’t mind that you didn’t wear that fun apron they made you when they understand you are staying safe!
Any time you cook, stay nearby. Even after everything is done, stick close to the kitchen while your appliances cool down.
Kitchen fires move quickly—which means you need to be close so that you can react fast and keep them from getting out of control. Fires are possible whether you are grilling, baking or simply boiling some water.
If deep-frying a turkey is going to be part of your celebrations, take some extra steps to prevent a disaster.
Put the fryer on a level surface clear of any flammable materials. Don’t overfill the oil, and keep the kids and pets away. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed, too. Even a partially frozen turkey can turn the grease into fireworks that won’t end well.
You can’t always prevent every fire, but when you take as many steps as possible toward safety, you can greatly reduce your risks. Make sure your home has plenty of preventive measures in place, including smoke detectors on every level.
While you should check these monthly, check the one in or near your kitchen before you start the holiday cooking to make sure it is in good working shape.
Store a fire extinguisher near your kitchen, and teach a few of the members of your household how to use it. Even if your recipe doesn’t call for it, get the lids of any pots or pans you will be using out so that you can smother potential grease fires quickly.
Make your holiday safe. You deserve to enjoy this time with your family! If you do suffer smoke or fire damage, call us right away. We can get to your house quickly and get your restoration handled. We will put things back together so you can get back to celebrating.
House fires can happen in the blink of an eye. Contact us for a quick restoration day or night!