Everyone loves a delicious holiday meal, but it can also increase the risk for home fires. According to the
National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. The Queen Creek Fire & Medical Department (QCFMD) offers the following cooking safety tips to help reduce the risk of fire this Thanksgiving:
•Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Some types of cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.
•Be sure to thaw the turkey completely before cooking. When cooking a turkey, remain at home and check it regularly.
•Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that require longer cook times.
•Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, and towels at least three feet away from the cooking area.
•Avoid long sleeves and hanging fabrics that can come in contact with a heat source.
•Keep kids at least three feet away from the stove, oven, hot food and liquids.
•Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If a small grease fire starts, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan, then turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time.
•If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call the fire department from outside.
The Town of Queen Creek offers a
free recycling program for cooking oil. Cooking oil should never be dumped down a drain or disposed of in the trash, garbage containers, dumpsters, or down the public sewage system. Cooking oil poured down the drain negatively affects water quality and can cost thousands of dollars in sewer repairs from pipe blockages. Placing oil in your trash or recycling carts leads to contamination and spillage. It also has the potential to cause cart fires or fires in the collection vehicles.
Residents can recycle used cooking oil at no charge at the Town’s year-round grease collection sites, Fire Station 2 (24787 S. Sossaman Road) and the QC Recycle Center (22179 E. Ryan Road).
It’s also important to ensure smoke alarms are installed and working. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement). Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button and replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
QCFMD offers a free smoke detector maintenance program. To learn more and request an appointment, visit
QueenCreekAZ.gov/CommunityAssistance.
For additional safety information, visit
QueenCreekAZ.gov/SafetyTips.
To stay updated on activities, follow the Town on
Facebook.com/QCFire or
X.com/TownofQC. To report non-emergency issues
Media Contact:
Constance Halonen-Wilson, Communication & Marketing Manager
480-358-3195
QCPIO@QueenCreekAZ.gov