Holiday Cooking Tips from the Valdosta Fire Department

Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involved in cooking equipment. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Valdosta Fire Department wants citizens to ensure they are taking safety precautions when cooking.

  • Ensure that you have working smoke alarms throughout your home.
  • Never leave cooking unattended.
  • If you plan on using a turkey fryer, be sure that you have read all the instructions before use.
  • Make sure your turkey is completely thawed out before frying.
  • Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
  • It is a good idea to have a fire extinguisher handy in your home and ready for use at all times.
  • Keep oven food packaging and other combustibles away from burners and heat sources.
  • Don’t wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners-they can melt, ignite or catch on handles of pots and pans spilling hot oil and other liquids.
  • Never use a turkey fryer indoors or on decks; it is safe to use them 12-15 feet away from your home.

If you have any fire safety questions, please contact Tangela Rowe at 229-333-1835 or send an e-mail to valdostafire@valdostacity.com.

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