SAN ANTONIO — Whether you’re planning to fry your turkey or put it in the oven this Thanksgiving the number one goal should be to do it safely.
Safety and protecting your well being goes beyond the kitchen this season.
While you wait to serve your turkey, remember the men and women who are ready to serve you.
“While they signed up for it and they understand that…just seeing those scenes day in and day out…it’s a stressful time for all of us," assistant chief George Amen with the Bexar-Bulverde Fire Department said.
It’s important to prevent fires where you can.
Amen said this time of year is important to make sure you’re frying in an outside space that is safe, which means lowering it into the fryer slowly and letting that turkey completely thaw out.
“Because if any water…any ice is on there that, it just increases the amount of boiling on there, then it boils over to the fire and consumes the whole thing.”
In case of an emergency eliminating the source and being able to put it out and stop the heat are the big things along with not letting it spread.
Amen also said if you don’t have a fire extinguisher on hand you can use household items like baking soda to put that fire out. It's important to note he said baking soda and not baking powder.
If you do not have an extinguisher, for a small fire, you can use baking soda, not baking powder. Baking powder often contains combustible ingredients like cornstarch or flour, which could make the fire worse.
“Baking soda does work but water does not," Amen said. "Water just spreads the hot oil all over the place."
Don’t get too close to any flames if a fire gets out of hand. Call 9-1-1 whenever you can't handle a fire.
Hopefully you don’t have to but on this day of giving thanks stay safe and remember those who are ready to serve you.
“Anything you can do to show you are thankful…that help to let them know we are also cared for.”