Red Cross volunteers spend holiday on standby for house fires
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Thanksgiving is one of the most dangerous times of the year for house fires.
Between frying turkeys and kitchen mishaps, the Red Cross is busy at this time of year assisting families who lose everything.
That means while many of us were enjoying family time, Red Cross volunteers had to be ready to answer the call for help on Thanksgiving.
In Aiken County, Don and Mary Schoenecker do just that during the holidays.
He said they do it because fires are going to happen, so they want to be there to help.
She said that as a family, they believe in service to their community.
“That is something that gives us great gratification,” she said.
Augusta firefighters demonstrate turkey fryer safety
Doctors Hospital hosted its annual turkey fryer safety demonstration to highlight key tips for preventing burns and injuries during the Thanksgiving season.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are more home cooking fires in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day than any other day during the year.
In 2023, State Farm, the country’s largest insurer, paid over $237.4 million for 3,390 grease/cooking fire claims.
In Georgia, State Farm paid $17.8 million for about 230 claims. That puts Georgia tied at the top with California, where claims also totaled $17.8 million.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Top 10: These states garnered the most money for cooking fires in 2023
- California - $17.8 million
- Georgia - $17.8 million
- Illinois - $17.7 million
- New York - $11.9 million
- Michigan - $11.3 million
- Texas - $10.6 million
- Ohio - $10.4 million
- Pennsylvania - $9.7 million
- Tennessee - $9.1 million
- Alabama - $9.1 million
Cooking causes an average of 158,400 home fires per year, which is 44% of all home fires in the United States.
The American Red Cross offers these safety steps:
Never use a fryer near your house or other structure. Place the fryer on a flat, even surface.
- Never fry a turkey that’s not fully thawed.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove.
- Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
- Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
- Keep kids and pets at least three feet away from cooking areas.
- Keep anything that can catch on fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains — away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance that generates heat.
- Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
- Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.
- Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.
- Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed.
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