Galveston County, TX

Thanksgiving revolves around a feast shared with family and friends, so naturally it is also the number one holiday for cooking fires. Cooking, in itself, accounts for 49 percent of house fires. Cooking fires also account for 21 percent of the deaths from fires and 44 percent of house fire injuries. For this reason, NEVER leave anything cooking unattended. While keeping heat sources clear of combustible materials like oven mitts and towel is important, 2 out of 3 cooking fires comes from ignition of food.

If a fire does break out, have a fire extinguisher handy. The extinguisher should be within reach, but avoid placing it too close to any potential sources of fire. NEVER TRY TO PUT OUT A GREASE FIRE WITH WATER. Use baking soda or a pot lid to smother the flames. If a fire breaks out in the oven, turn off the oven and close the door. If you have any doubts about putting out a fire yourself, get out and call 911 from outside the home. If possible, close any doors you can behind you to contain the fire.

If you are having trouble figuring out which fire extinguisher would be right for you visit the National Fire Protection Association.