Tips offered for safe cooking during holidays | Lifestyles - Overton County News
Holiday party planning begins now for many families, and Phillip Lee Craighead of Servpro is offering some reminders to area residents to help ensure this season glows with the warmth of good food and good friends, and not with the glare of a devastating home fire. “The holiday season is a time when many families plan big and elaborate meals for large groups of people,” Craighead said. “But all that cooking creates an extraordinary risk of fire. For a safe and festive holiday season, it’s important to understand that risk and take steps to minimize it.” Research from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reveals that in 2017, on average, U.S. fire departments responded to a home fire every 88 seconds. Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries, causing 47% of home fires. These fires resulted in 20% of the home fire deaths and 45% of the injuries. “According to the NFPA, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by the da...