Six Tips to Keep Your Thanksgiving Meal From Becoming a Two-Alarm Special

Today is the single biggest celebration of American comfort food on the planet, but it’s also the worst day for home cooking fires in the United States so Patch asked Miami-Dade Fire Rescue for six quick tips on how to keep your special meal from becoming a two-alarm special.

By now, most people know to avoid putting a frozen turkey in a vat of hot oil, but here are other easy tips from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to minimize the chance of something going wrong today:

• Be mindful of loose mats in the kitchen. They’re a potential tripping hazard when you are carrying your holiday meal to the table. They’re also particularly dangerous for senior dinner guests.
• Your warm and inviting kitchen has so many hidden safety hazards that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue suggests marking off a three-foot area around your stove as a no-play area for kids.
• When cooking or frying, be sure to point handles toward the rear of the stove to minimize the possibility of burn-related injuries.

• If you do experience a grease fire on your stove, resist the temptation to put it out with water. It’s best to cover the flame with a lid. If that doesn’t work and you don’t have a fire extinguisher, you can always use baking soda, which should not be confused with baking powder.
• If you have to use your fire extinguisher today, remember to pull the pin at the top, aim at the fire and squeeze the trigger as you sweep from side to side until the flames are out.
• Avoid leaving the oven door open when you remove your turkey. This is a burn hazard for children and pets.

Enjoy your holiday with these tips from your friends at Patch and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Maggie Castro offers holiday safety tips.