BERWYN, PA - The Berwyn Fire Company would like to wish the T-E community a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. We also want to take a moment to provide you with some helpful statistics and fire safety tips for you and your family.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires year-round, accounting for almost half of all US home fires and reported home fire injuries. The NFPA reports that an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving with unattended cooking being the leading cause of these fires.

Cooking is the second-leading cause of home fire deaths, accounting for 17% of all fire deaths. The NFPA also reports that less progress has been made in reducing deaths from home cooking fires than deaths from most other fire causes.

If you have a cooking fire...

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1. Be ready to provide your street address, municipality and county...this is especially important when calling from a cell phone.
• If you try to extinguish the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear path (to your way out of the home and someone has called 9-1-1).
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Deep-fried turkey has quickly grown in popularity but safety experts are concerned that backyard chefs may be sacrificing fire safety for good taste. If you absolutely must use a turkey fryer, please use the following tips:

• Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance (at least 50') from buildings and any other flammable materials.
• Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
• Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
• Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 9-1-1 for help.