Ruthy Kirwan makes the sauce for a green bean casserole. Fire officials say it's important to keep an eye on cooking food, especially on the stovetop.

Ruthy Kirwan makes the sauce for a green bean casserole. Fire officials say it's important to keep an eye on cooking food, especially on the stovetop. / AP Photo

Fire safety experts are warning Georgians to be careful as they cook their Thanksgiving dinner.

 It's important to be careful of fire hazards as you cook for Thanksgiving.

Savannah fire officials are warning people to pay close attention in the kitchen when preparing holiday meals. Deputy Fire Marshall Cheryl Mason said it’s easy to get distracted with lots of guests around.

 

“Keep a pot holder with you, set your timers, things like that,” she said. “But stay in the kitchen, especially if you have stove-top items going.”

 

Be especially careful if you’re frying a turkey. Never fry a frozen turkey, and be sure to stay outside well away from the building. Turkey fryers can tip over easily and partially frozen birds can cause oil to splatter.

 

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas and Christmas Eve. Unattended cooking is the leading contributing factor in most home cooking fires over the holidays.

 

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