Fire House Facts

The Yuma Fire Department responded to 231 emergency calls for service

• 11 Commercial Assignments
  Including: A fire in the restroom at a park, and various alarms
• 1 Hazardous Materials Assignment
  Including:  A small fuel spill
• 16 Motor Vehicle Crashes
  Including:  2 involving pedestrians, 1 involving a wall, and 1 involving a pole
• 179 Other Medical Emergencies (serious to minor)
  Including: 6 for difficulty breathing, 15 for chest pain, 19 fall victims, 5 unconscious people, 6 seizure cases, 3 diabetic emergencies, 2 possible strokes, 2 allergic reactions, 1 possible poisoning, 10 patients with mental problems, and misc. other illnesses and injuries
• 24 Special Duty, Public Assistance and Residential Assignments
  Including: A large water leak at an assisted living facility, a fire behind a house that was stopped before it could spread to the inside of the residence, the smell of gas inside of a residence, power lines down in a roadway, an unauthorized burning of dried grass, 5 calls for a fire alarm sounding after a power outage, a vehicle fire, and various alarms

Thanksgiving Cooking

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Every year hundreds of Americans die, thousands more are injured, and roughly half a billion dollars in property damage results from cooking fires. No surprise that cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving. Cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day in 2005 resulted in over 1,300 structure fires (Almost 3 times the daily average!). Unattended cooking is a major reason these fires occur.

Here are a few suggestions for a safer Thanksgiving:

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food.
• If you must leave the kitchen, for even a short time, turn off the stove. Be mindful of unexpected distractions (phone calls, visitors, etc.) that take your attention away from your cooking.
• If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you the stove or oven is on.
• Avoid wearing loose clothes (especially with dangling sleeves) while cooking. Loose clothing can catch fire when exposed directly to the many of the heat sources present in the kitchen.
• Also, use extra caution with candles and where you place them. Never leave candles burning unattended!

In recent years deep frying of Thanksgiving turkeys has become very popular. This method of cooking involves using a large quantity of very hot oil, it can be dangerous, and extreme caution must be used. The following information and tips are provided by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) website:

Here's why using a deep-fryer can be dangerous:

• Many units easily tip over, spilling the hot oil within the cooking pot. 
• If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit. 
• Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire. 
• With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion. 
• The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

If you absolutely must use a turkey fryer, here are some tips for safer use:

• Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn. 
• Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages. 
• 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 don't watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. 
• Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer. 
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix, and water causes oil to spill over, causing a fire or even an explosion hazard. 
• The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator. 
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 9-1-1 for help. 
• Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots remains dangerously hot, hours after use.

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