Gobble up these safety tips before Thanksgiving from the Houston County Fire Department

HOUSTON COUNTY — The holidays are just around the corner, and families are preparing their Thanksgiving dinner. Before putting turkeys in the oven or in a fryer, make sure to do it safely. 

Houston County Fire Chief Chris Stoner shares tips on how to make Thanksgiving memorable, in a good way. 

The biggest advice Stoner shared is to check smoke detectors. He said there is a lot of cooking and families visiting during this time of year, which could be distracting. With the recent time change, he recommends checking the batteries in the smoke detectors to make sure they are operational. 

Another big thing the fire department sees are turkey fryers. Stoner said a lot of people want to try it, but urges them to make sure the turkey is adequately thawed before putting it in grease. 

Candles are also being used more during this time of year. Stoner said if someone is going to burn candles, make sure they are on a hard, flat surface and kept away from combustible items. Other items to keep candles away from are furniture and curtains. 

Calls vary during the holidays, according to Stoner. He shared that the fire department responds to a lot of cooking and grease fires.

“Have a fire extinguisher or means of extinguishment available. Remember if you do have a grease fire, never use water to try to extinguish it; it will make it worse,” he said. 

Stoner said the department also responds to burn calls. Commonly, turkey frying mishaps lead to accidents. 

“Exercise caution. Make sure you do your research before you decide a new cooking method that you haven’t tried before,” he said. 

Stoner shared it is always great to remain safe, no matter the time of year. He said the department never wants to see hospital stays or the need to extinguish a fire during a special time with family, especially when it is avoidable. The fire department is always here, and Stoner hopes no one is in need of their services this year. 

“Simply paying attention to what you’re doing and not leaving food unattended on the stove or on the grill is the easiest way to prevent that,” he said. 

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