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Santa Barbara, CA —This Thanksgiving campaign reinforces the importance of staying attentive and preventing distractions with the focused message: “Safety Belongs on Every Menu.”
Top Kitchen Safety Tips for Thanksgiving
• Stay with the stovetop — never leave food cooking unattended.
• Turn pot handles inward and keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from hot surfaces and liquids.
• Keep anything that can burn — oven mitts, towels, and packaging — away from the stovetop.
• Use timers to stay on track, especially when using the oven.
• If a small grease fire occurs, turn off the burner and slide a lid over the pan. Never use water.
Turkey Fryer Safety
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) continues to discourage the use of oil-based turkey fryers due to the risk of fires, burns, and explosions. If residents choose to use one:
• Only operate fryers outdoors, away from buildings, deck railings, and overhangs.
• Always thaw turkey completely and dry thoroughly before lowering it into oil.
• Have a Class B fire extinguisher nearby — never attempt to extinguish an oil fire with water.
From all of us at the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
