History of Thanksgiving

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

During times of thanksgiving the intelligent individual will remain diligent of the risks involved when preparing a feast for the family.

The number one preventable disaster is a house fire. As we move into the holiday season it is not time to become complacent.

Causes of Thanksgiving Day Fires in Residential Buildings (2011-2013)

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Statistics to share

Based on 2010-2014 annual averages:

Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires.

Two-thirds of home cooking fires started when food or other cooking materials caught fire.

Clothing was the item first ignited in less than one percent of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 18 percent of the cooking fire deaths.

Ranges accounted for the largest share (62 percent) of home cooking fire incidents.

More than half (55 percent) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.

Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

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Some prior information, just in-case you missed it;

Cook Safely for Thanksgiving

Keep your holiday safe and fun. Follow these tips from the USFA:

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the burner.

Watch what you are cooking. Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.

If you simmer, bake, or roast food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you.

Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packages, towels, and curtains) away from your stovetop.

Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Then, no one can bump them or pull them over.

Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby.  Use it to cover the pan if it catches fire. This will put the fire out.

In the event of an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it is cool.

Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.

Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Deep Frying a Turkey?

The Best Turkey Frying Disasters on the Internet. Some Cautionary Warnings.

Prevent a Turkey Fryer Fire tip sheet.

Additional information on The Seasonal Nature of Fires.

My thoughts and prayers are that you all have a joyous holiday season.

Till next time

“Be Safe”

P.S. Please leave a reply. Let me know what you are thinking about the posts, and what would you like to know on the subject of Emergency Action Planning? I cannot read your mind 😉