FROM STAFF REPORTS

HELENA–The Thanksgiving holiday is here and the Helena Fire Department and the Helena Fire Explorers would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving, according to a press release from the HFD and the Helena Fire Explorers.

As we all get together to enjoy our families, lets remember to be safe in the kitchen by reviewing these safety tips:

–Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking, especially when frying, broiling or boiling at high temperatures.
–Make your cooking area safe. Move things that can burn away from the stove. Turn pot handles toward the back so they can’t be bumped.
–Watch what you’re cooking. Use a timer when roasting a turkey or baking.
–Be prepared. Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet handy in case you need to smother a pan fire.
–Stay awake and alert while you’re cooking. If you see smoke or the grease starts to boil in your pan, turn the burner off.
–Prevent burns. Wear short sleeves when you cook, or roll them up. Don’t lean over the burner. Use potholders and oven mitts to handle hot cookware.

For the families that enjoy frying a turkey, here are some safety tips for you:

–Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
–An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in, and a partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when put in the pot. Completely thaw the turkey and pat it dry before placing it in the oil.
–Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
–Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
–The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot.