Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue want you to cook safely this holiday season

Cooking fires are one of the leading causes of home fires. With families now making plans for their holiday turkey and trimmings, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue offers the following safety tips. 

You are invited to see a turkey fryer demonstration Nov. 20 noon-2 p.m. at 1621 SW Stephenson Street in Portland.

To see video of a turkey fryer fire, visit TVF&R's website.

Turkey Fryers:

TVF&R advises individuals planning to use a turkey fryer to use extreme caution. Nationwide, druing the past 10 years, there have been over 100 fires and burn injuries associated with these appliances. In addition, due to the hazards associated with these appliances, Underwriters Laboratories has yet to certify a single turkey fryer with the UL mark.

• Turkey fryers should always be used on a flat, non-combustible surface, outside away from buildings and items that can burn. Never use on wooden decks or in garages. 
• Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls and will heat until the oil ignites. 
• To avoid oil spillover and a resulting fire, do not overfill the fryer. 
• Oil and water do not mix! Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. A frozen turkey placed in hot oil will splatter and/or cause an explosive fire. 
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handle. 
• Never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer - the oil inside the cooking pot can remain hot for hours.
• Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Call 9-1-1 immediately if a fire occurs.

Stovetop Fires:

• Keep combustibles away from the stovetop and keep your cooking area clean. 
• Never leave food unattended on the stovetop - turn off burners or set a timer if you leave the room for any reason. 
• Heat cooking oil slowly and never leave it unattended. Turn down the heat if it begins to smoke. 
• If the fire is large or appears to be growing, do not attempt to extinguish it. Leave your home and call 9-1-1 from a cell phone or neighbor's house.

If the fire is still the pan you may be able to extinguish it yourself by: 

PUTTING A LID ON IT: Slide a lid carefully from the side, over the pan and turn off the burner. This action removes two elements necessary for a fire: oxygen and heat. You may also use a baking sheet or pizza pan in place of a lid.

• Sprinking baking soda on the fire
• Using a fire extinguisher
• If you experience an oven fire, keep the door of the oven shut and turn off the heat.

Note: NEVER transfer a burning pan from the stovetop to the sink or out the back door. The fire may grow in size and burn you or spread to countertop or cabinets. Also, never pour water on a grease fire. The flames will "splash," resulting in burns to your body and/or spreading to nearby cabinets and countertops.