Brainerd Fire Department Offers Tips To Prevent Fires This Thanksgiving

According to the American Red Cross, Thanksgiving is the number-one day of the year for home cooking fires. Thousands of fires are started every year on Thanksgiving, and according to officials from the Brainerd Fire Department, the best way to prevent people’s feasts from going up in flames is to make sure someone is watching the food at all times.

“A lot of times what we want to do, and [what] we tell people for fire safety, is ‘look when you cook’ or ‘stand by your pan,'” explained Brainerd Deputy Fire Chief Dave Cox. “Always make sure that you watch what you’re cooking, making sure that you are in touch with what’s going on. If you do get distracted and you have to leave or do something, shut off what you’re cooking so that you make sure that stays safe.”

For those who plan on frying a turkey on Thursday, the Brainerd Fire Department wants to remind the public to fry the bird outside in an open area to best prevent a fire.