©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Safe Holidays Mean Happy Holidays |
It's about that time to put the bird in the deep fryer and possibly blow up your garage. The results of a deep fried turkey can be pure satisfaction, or a fire.
State Fire Marshall Dave DeFraties says there is plenty of risks associated with the upcoming holidays including the potential for fires, or putting up holiday lights on a house when it's wet or icy among others.
He says fire departments around the country log more fire calls on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, and that deep fryers are a big part of the reason.
"Usually they are an outdoor unit, that's set up on some type of pedistal that is prone to tipping. You've got over five gallons, many times, of cooking oil placed in the pot. That oil is heated up to 350 degrees or many times more than that."
DeFraties is urging consumers to regularly check your Christmas trees for fresh and green needles, while not keeping it too close to a fireplace or an electrical outlet, while keeping the decoration fully watered. He also suggests checking for the Underwriters Laboratories, or UL, mark on light strings, electrical decorations and extension cords. The mark means UL engineers have tested representative samples of the product for the foreseeable safety hazards such as fire or electrical shock.
On average each year, the National Fire Protection Agency says live and artificial trees are involved in 3-hundred home fires across the country, resulting in 14 fatalities, 21 injuries and 16.8 million dollars of property damage.
For more information on holiday safety tips, CLICK HERE. |
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| 11 25 09 by Newsroom |
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