New Bedford Fire Department Warns About Thanksgiving Fires

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The New Bedford Fire Department is reminding residents of the dangers associated with Thanksgiving cooking fires.

The department posted a video to its official Facebook page this afternoon touting safety tips for Thanksgiving cooking, noting the holiday sees three times more cooking fires than any other day

The video, featuring Fire Chief Brian Medeiros and Fire & Life Safety Educator Firefighter Anthony Poente, offers tips for both safety around the kitchen as well as what to do if a fire breaks out.

Stovetop and Oven Fire Safety Tips

In the video, Poente demonstrates what to do if you have a stovetop fire (put a lid on it, turn off the heat) or an oven fire (press the button on your stove). In both cases, it is important not to lift the lid or open the oven door, because either can add oxygen to the fire and help keep it burning.

Other tips include making sure pot handles on the stove are turned in, and removing anything from the area of the stove that could be combustible.

Frying and Grilling Turkey Safely

The two also offer tips for those who wish to fry or grill a turkey for Thanksgiving, noting that it should be done outside and not on a balcony or porch. The grill or fryer should be placed 25 to 30 feet from any buildings and turkeys should be completely thawed before going into the fryer.

Remembering the 2020 Thanksgiving Fire

New Bedford suffered a devastating fire on Thanksgiving in 2020 when a turkey-frying incident led to an explosion and three homes being destroyed on Washburn Street.

READ MORE: Three Houses Burn in New Bedford, 27 Displaced

READ MORE: New Bedford Recalls Dangers of Deep-Frying Thanksgiving Turkey