Tulsa Fire Department shares holiday safety tips ahead of Thanksgiving

TULSA, Okla. –

With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, the Tulsa Fire Department is reminding people to keep safety in mind while cooking, decorating and preparing their homes for the holidays.

Public Information Officer Andy Little with the Tulsa Fire Department recently joined News On 6 to share tips for preventing fires and avoiding injuries during one of the busiest times of the year.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, the Tulsa Fire Department is reminding people to keep safety in mind while cooking, decorating and preparing their homes for the holidays.

People who are using a fryer for the first time should take their time and understand how to operate the equipment safely.

One important precaution is to put water in the cooking pot before adding oil to determine how much oil is needed. Overfilling the fryer can cause oil to spill over the sides, potentially reaching the open flame and starting a fire.

Little recommends following several safety precautions when frying a turkey:

• Use the fryer on a flat, level, nonflammable surface.
• Keep the fryer away from the home.
• Never operate a turkey fryer inside a home, garage or other enclosed space.
• Avoid overfilling the fryer with oil.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire.

Little said the Tulsa Fire Department’s demonstration intentionally showed what can happen when people ignore those precautions.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, the Tulsa Fire Department is reminding people to keep safety in mind while cooking, decorating and preparing their homes for the holidays.

Little recommends watering real trees every day. If the needles begin falling off easily or the tree changes color and starts looking dry, it’s time to remove it from the home.

A dry Christmas tree can become a serious fire hazard, making regular maintenance especially important throughout the holiday season.

Hanging Christmas lights can also lead to injuries, particularly when people are working on ladders.

Little recommends hiring a professional when possible to handle outdoor holiday lighting. For those who choose to do it themselves, he says it’s important to take precautions.

Make sure ladders are placed on a flat surface and consider having someone nearby to help. Having another person present can also make it easier to call 911 if an injury occurs.

Little also recommends keeping a cellphone with you while working outside in case of an emergency.