Fire safety for the holidays

It’s a familiar, picturesque scene — flames dance in the woodstove while the smell of turkey roasting in the kitchen oven fills the house.

Alaska State Fire Marshal Kelly Nicolello has issued a timely reminder that cooking and heating-related incidents are the leading cause — 75 percent — of residential structure fires in Alaska.

“Fire safe behavior can keep a fire from starting,” Nicolello said. “Working smoke alarms, planning and practicing your fire escape plan, and adding residential fire suppression sprinklers can ensure your family’s safety from a fire that occurs during the holidays.”

The fire marshal also urges people to follow a few safety precautions to reduce the risk of holiday cooking fires:

• Pay close attention while cooking, especially when using oils and grease. Cooking appliances should be kept clean of food and grease build-up.

• Keep young children away from cooking appliances to prevent any mishaps.

• It’s always a good idea to use back burners when possible and keep pot handles turned to the inside so they won’t be pulled or knocked over.

• Check stoves and other appliances before going to bed or leaving your home to make sure that the units are left in the “off” position.

• Keep combustible materials, like holiday decorations, at least 36 inches from heat sources.

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions when using space heaters. All heaters should be approved by a recognized testing authority such as Underwriter’s Laboratories.

Cooking your holiday turkey in a hot oil fryer is not recommended because of the extreme fire danger of igniting the oil. If you decide to use a turkey fryer, keep it outdoors away from combustibles, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and have a fire extinguisher available.

If a fire occurs in a pan, the most effective and safest method of control is to turn off the burner and apply a lid to the pan. Never carry a pan that’s on fire, it may ignite clothes or spill, causing severe burns.

Putting water on a grease fire will only spread the fire. If the fire is inside your oven, turn off the heat and leave the door closed to cut off the fire’s air supply.

As with any fire emergency, call 911 as soon as possible.

Best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday for all our Mat-Su Valley neighbors.