With cold weather beginning to set in and the holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to review some tips to keep your family safe and merry. 

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Most of these fires are a result of unattended cooking.

Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on a stovetop. If you are cooking a turkey in the oven, stay in your home and check the turkey often.

Before you start cooking, test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working. 

If you have little ones helping out in the kitchen, keep them away from the stove and from any hot foods or liquids, which could cause serious burns. Make sure that any loose electrical cords are kept out of reach of children.

If you are planning to oil-fry a turkey, make sure that your turkey is fully thawed first. A partially frozen turkey can cause cooking oil to splash out of the fryer and catch fire. A good rule of thumb is to let your turkey thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey.

Keep your fryer on a level surface outdoors, at least 10 feet away from your home. Be careful not to overfill the fryer, or it could overflow when you put the turkey in. If you are not sure, you can test it with water first to see how much fluid you will need.

Heat your home safely

In my experience, cold weather is usually connected to an increase in residential fires. Most of these fires happen in homes without central heating systems as residents turn to other heat sources.

Here are a few things you should never use to heat your home:

• Generators or grills: These can produce carbon monoxide and should be kept outside.
• Gas stove ranges: These are a fire hazard and can produce harmful fumes.
• Ovens: Leaving an oven on solely to produce heat can cause an electrical overload or ignite food residue in or around the oven.

If you are using a space heater, make sure it is three feet away from anything flammable. This includes clothing, which can catch fire if you stand too close.

Keep your space heater on a level surface so that it does not tip over.

Some space heaters have safety features that can help to prevent fires, but every space heater is different. Check the manual to be sure that you understand the safety features of your space heater.

If you are using a cord to plug in any type of electrical heater, make sure the cord is in good shape. Do not place a cord where someone could trip over it.

Do not keep extension cords plugged in around the clock, since they are unable to shut off in the event of overheating. Instead, use a power strip with an automatic shutoff feature.

Before you buy a new heater, be sure that it has been certified to meet safety standards. UL listing is the gold standard for heaters and many other types of electrical appliances in the U.S. Check for the “UL Listed” label to determine if the product meets this standard.

If you are planning to use your fireplace to heat your home, have your chimney inspected first. Flammable soot residue can build up in your chimney over time.

Keep any flammable materials at least three feet away from your fireplace.

Never use gasoline to start a fire in your fireplace.

Never burn charcoal in your fireplace. Use natural wood or artificial logs designed for fireplaces.

Keep your damper open to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.

Smoke alarms: Our gift to you

The Victoria Fire Department provides free smoke alarms to residents, and we will even install them for you. To request a smoke alarm, call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 361-485-3460 or visit www.victoriatx.gov/fire. 

Annette V. Ponce is the fire marshal for the Victoria Fire Department.