how to prevent kitchen fires this holiday season

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means many of you will be busy in the kitchen this week.

Thanksgiving cooking safety tips: how to prevent kitchen fires this holiday season. (Credit: Bedford County Fire and Rescue)

ABC13 wants to help you keep your cooking masterpieces from turning into fiery mishaps this holiday.

Bedford County Fire Marshal Leo George said holidays are a time for home gatherings, but it’s also a time for safety.

“We are getting ready to start cooking with our friends and family, and we wanted to teach you a little bit and have you be as safe as possible,” Fire Marshal George said.

Bedford County Fire and Rescue sent ABC13 pictures of what can happen if you’re not careful.

Thanksgiving cooking safety tips: how to prevent kitchen fires this holiday season. (Credit: Bedford County Fire and Rescue)

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You can take certain steps to keep yourself safe.

Here’s what you need to do when cooking with grease.

“Turn the knob off and kill the heat to that pot and take the lid and cover it up and let the burn the oxygen out and put itself out,” George said.

For other types of fires, such as those involving wood or paper products, you can use a fire extinguisher to put them out.

“We’re going to use the pass method to utilize that, pull it, aim, and squeeze. We’re going to aim at the base of the fire. We’re going to squeeze the handle, and we’re going to sweep that nozzle back and forth at the base of that fire,” George said.

SEE ALSO: Residents displaced, pets killed in Bedford County house fire

For electrical fires, you can use a CO2 extinguisher.

Thanksgiving cooking safety tips: how to prevent kitchen fires this holiday season. (Credit: WSET)

Finally, if it’s plastic, grab a water fire extinguisher to get rid of the flames.

Those are all timely tips because George said firefighters have seen a 20 to 25% increase in kitchen fires over the last few weeks.

Here are some other things to keep in mind.

Turn your pots and pans handles in towards the stove.

That prevents you from getting burned if hot grease or liquids spill out.

Also, don’t leave any food unattended in the kitchen.