The Indianola Fire Department would like to remind you to be vigilant in the kitchen this Super Bowl Sunday on February 11, 2024 – the United States’ second biggest day for food consumption – which means a lot of time spent planning and preparing game day snacks.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.
Here are some tips (with a football twist) to keep in mind, courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration:
Kitchen Huddle
Prepare your cooking area. Use back burners, or turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Move things that can burn away from the stove. Keep a timer handy, and use it when you’re roasting or baking.
Penalty Flag
Frying poses the greatest risk of fire. Keep an eye on what you fry. Start with a small amount of oil, and heat it slowly. If you see smoke or if the grease starts to boil in your pan, turn the burner off. Even a small amount of oil on a hot burner can start a fire.
Defense
Stay awake and alert while you’re cooking. Stand by your pan. If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off. Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet nearby in case you need to smother a pan fire.
Illegal Contact
Prevent burns when you’re cooking. Wear short sleeves, or roll them up. Don’t lean over the burner. Use potholders and oven mitts to handle hot or steaming cookware.
Defensive Linemen
Children need constant adult supervision. If you have young children in the home, keep them 3 feet from anything that can get hot, including the stove. Put hot objects and liquids beyond a child’s reach so that they can’t touch or pull them down. Never hold a child when you cook.
Touchdown!
Keep safety in mind when serving on game day, too. If you burn candles, position them out of the reach of children and away from anything that can burn. Consider using flameless candles that are lit by battery power instead. Food warmers and slow cookers get hot. Place them toward the back of the serving table so that they won’t get knocked off. Provide hot pads to prevent burns. Light the chafing dish fuel can after it is placed under the warmer. Make sure that nothing comes in contact with the flame. If young children are in your home, supervise them and keep matches and lighters locked away.
For additional fire safety and burn prevention information, please visit the Indianola Fire Department website at www.indianolaiowa.gov/fire.