RAF Mildenhall Fire Department Thanksgiving safety message

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  • RAF Mildenhall Fire Department
RAF MILDENHALL, England --   The members of the RAF Mildenhall Fire Department would like to wish you and your families a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. The Fire Department is calling all cooks across the base and local neighborhoods to include fire safety in their recipes.

Thanksgiving is the leading day for home-cooking fires. U.S. Firefighters responded to more than 1,300 home fires caused by cooking on Thanksgiving last year  -- which is about three times the daily average.

With that in mind, we would like to remind everyone of a few safety tips that can ensure a safe holiday.
  • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove top.
  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop.
  • If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or broiling food, check it regularly; remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you when it should be done.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire - oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains - away from your stovetop.
If cooking with an "Outdoor" Turkey fryer follow these safety tips:

  • Fryers should never be operated indoors.
  • Never leave turkey fryers unattended.
  • Keep fryers at least 10ft from all buildings and on a non-combustible surface.
  • Make sure fryers are on a flat surface to prevent tipping or spills of hot oil.
Now that you have employed the safety tips listed above, let's review what you need to do if you do have a cooking fire or other emergency.
  • Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered and call the fire department.
  • For an oven fire, turn off the heat, keep the door closed and call the fire department.
  • When in doubt, just get out! When you leave, close the door and call the fire department.
For any emergency remember the following Emergency Reporting Numbers:

  • On base from DSN 911
  • On Base Housing or Mobile Phone 01638547911
  • Off Base 999
Pull out the recipe books, gather the family and friends, enjoy some football, and maybe even start up a Turkey bowl. But most importantly do all these things safely to ensure that everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

If you or your family have any questions in regards to home fire safety please feel free to contact RAF Mildenhall Fire Prevention Office @ 01638542763.