Thanksgiving Day Brings More Fires Than Any Other Day of the Year

On Thanksgiving Day, many families customarily spend the holiday preparing a feast that will be the highlight of the day. This holiday custom encourages families to get together which results in a whirlwind of commotion within the kitchen. With so much going on, it is easy to understand how safety precautions can easily be overlooked

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and give thanks but it is also the leading day for home cooking fires with three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year according to The National Fire Protection Association(NFPA).

When most people are sitting down to eat, Rainbow International and their service professionals are standing by in preparation for what the night may bring. “While others are enjoying their holiday meal, we are responding to fires and performing emergency board-up security. Black Wednesday and Thanksgiving usually turn out to be busy nights for us.” says Rainbow’s President, John Gurtler.

Operating as a property damage restoration company, Rainbow International warns people to pay close attention in the kitchen during the holiday season to prevent becoming another fire loss statistic. “Over the last eight years we have seen all types of fire losses on Thanksgiving Day” John says. “Fires originating from in the oven, stove tops, overloaded circuits, and even fires that were the result of a candle being knocked over. Deep frying turkeys can also be risky if it is not done correctly. We usually end up responding to at least one or two fires caused by the misuse of deep fryers around the holidays as well.”

Rainbow International offers safety tips on how to deep fry a delicious turkey!

• Never leave a fryer unattended. 
• Place your fryer in an open area away from all any structures. 
• Never use your fryer in, on or under a garage, breezeway, porch, carport or any structure that has the ability to catch fire. 
• Have a fire extinguisher in place as a preventative measure. 
• Make sure your turkey is completely thawed before cooking. The USDA recommends that ittakes 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. Turkey’s that are partially frozen can cause oil splatter when they are added to the hot oil. 
• One of the main causes of fire is oil splatter. Be sure to raise and lower food slowly to reduce splatter and to avoid burns. 
• Frequently check the oil temperature. If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply off. 
• Maintain the temperature of the oil at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cook the turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound which turns out to be about 45 minutes. 
• If a fire occurs, immediately call 911 and do not attempt to extinguish fire with water. 

According to The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) the leading cause of fires are:

• Cooking 43% • Smoking 5%
• Heating Equipment 16% • Washer/Dryer 4%
• Intentional 8% • Candles 3%
• Electrical 6% 

Additional fire statistics:

• According to the American Red Cross, more fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home.
• The National Fire Protection Association warns that fires can double every five to 10 seconds and can consume a room in just one minute.
• U.S. Fire Administration report that frying food is the greatest risk of cooking fires.

About Rainbow International®:

EMERGENCY SERVICE LINE: (708) 460-0911
Established in 1981, Rainbow International is a global franchise organization providing residential and commercial restoration and cleaning services. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500,” Rainbow International franchisees offer a broad range of damage restoration services such as water, smoke, mold and fire damage clean up. Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs was awarded the 2016 Torch Award for Ethics by the Better Business Bureau. For more information on Rainbow International visit www.rainbowrestore.net.