Cook Carefully This Thanksgiving to Prevent Kitchen Fires
November 27, 2014
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is alerting consumers that the threat of fires in the kitchen triples on Thanksgiving Day. From 2009 through 2011, there was an average of about 1,300 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day. This is more than three times the average daily rate from 2009 through 2011 of about 400 cooking fires a day.
“As fire safety experts have said for years, ‘Stand by your pan!’” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “If you are frying, grilling or broiling food, stay in the kitchen. Not following this advice can be a recipe for disaster on Thanksgiving and throughout the year.” When it comes to fires in the home, cooking fires are number one. They accounted for nearly 150,000 fires (more than 40 percent of all annual unintentional residential fires) each year from 2009 through 2011. Unattended cooking is the top cause of cooking fires. Cooking fires also caused the most home fire-related injuries, with an estimated annual average of nearly 27 percent, or 3,450 injuries each year.
Overall, CPSC estimates an average of 362,300 unintentional residential fires, 2,260 deaths, 12,820 injuries and nearly $7 billion in property damage attended by the fire service occurring each year between 2009 and 2011.
To stay safe in the kitchen, avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves near ranges or ovens, watch children closely so they don’t come into contact with cooking food or hot stovetops, turn pan handles toward the back of the stove to prevent kids and others from spilling a pan’s scalding contents onto themselves.
In the event of a fire, call 911. Cover a pan with a lid to smother the flames. Never pour water or flour on a fire. That can make it worse. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
“Turkey fryer fires can be explosive and result in serious burns,” said Glenn Gaines, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator for the United States Fire Administration (USFA). “Only use a turkey fryer outside and away from your home. Never use it in a garage or on a porch. Don’t overfill the oil or leave the turkey fryer unattended.”
Since 2003, there have been more than 125 turkey fryer-related fires, burns, explosions, smoke inhalations, or laceration incidents reported to CPSC staff. There were 55 injuries among these incidents, but none were fatal. For the incidents reporting a dollar value for the property loss, the total loss reported was around $6 million. Additional incidents involving turkey fryers may have occurred that were not reported to CPSC.
Consumers should also protect themselves by installing smoke alarms in their homes. “Roughly three out of five home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms,” said Jim Shannon, President of the National Fire Protection Association. “Smoke alarms save lives. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a fire in half.”
Change the batteries in smoke alarms at least once every year and test the alarms every month to make sure they are working.
To provide a better warning of a fire and more escape time, install more than one alarm and interconnect all smoke alarms in the home. Interconnected alarms speak to one another, so if there is a fire in one part of the house, the interconnected alarms sound throughout the house and alert consumers to the fire more quickly.
For the best protection, install alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom, and use both ionization and photoelectric alarms. Alarms that are powered by house wiring should have a battery backup.
Smoke alarms provide the warning, but every family should have a fire escape plan as well. Practice the escape plan with everyone in the house so they can get out quickly. The escape plan should include two ways out of each room (as practical) and a family meeting place that is outside where everyone can meet if there is a fire in the home.
n Fires
Fill The Mayflower Collects 70,335 Meals For Families
November 27, 2014
Manna Food Pantries has concluded their seventh annual Fill the Mayflower food drive. This year, Fill the Mayflower will help provide food for a day for 23,445 people. The food will be distributed through Manna’s four pantries, the Santa Rosa Backpack4Teens Program and Senior Hunger Program in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“This year, Manna has provided food to 32,868 people, including nearly 12,000 children,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “This drive will provide the equivalent of 70,335 meals for families in need. The Northwest Florida community continues to show an amazing capacity to help those in need.”
The longtime event is the single most important food drive for the hungry in the community.
Manna continues to see high demand for healthy food for the hungry. In just three days before the Thanksgiving holiday,Manna provided food to more than 340 people, including 142 children. The organization is able to assist someone a maximum of four times a year.
Last year, Manna Food Pantries distributed 600,000 pounds of food to the hungry. The non-profit has been serving the community since 1983.
Holiday Closings For Thanksgiving
November 27, 2014
The following will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Escambia County Schools (Wed-Fri)
- Santa Rosa County Schools (Wed-Fri)
- Escambia (Fla. & Ala.) and Santa Rosa county offices (Thur-Fri)
- Century, Jay, Milton, Pensacola, Atmore, Flomaton city offices (Thur-Fri)
- Perdido Landfill (Thurs, landfill open Fri)
- Santa Rosa Landfill (Thurs, landfill open Fri)
- U.S. Post Office — retail windows closed, no mail delivery or collection (Thur)
- Florida state offices (Thur-Fri)
- Federal offices (Thur-Fri)
- No bus service from ECAT on Thursday, regular service Friday
- West Florida Public Libraries, including Century Branch (Thur-Fri)
ECUA Garbage:
ECUA’s Thursday residential routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday. Thursday’s commercial routes were picked up on Wednesday; Friday commercial routes will be picked up as usual.
Escambia Deputy Victim Of A Hit And Run Driver
November 27, 2014
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was the victim of a hit and run late Wednesday night on Highway 95A.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Deputy John Saltarelli was in a marked Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chevrolet Tahoe parked on Highway 95A facing north on the west shoulder about 11:17 p.m. The vehicle’s headlights and running lights were activated while parked.
An unidentified white van traveling south on Highway 95A collided with the right side of the the deputy’s vehicle. The white van left the scene of the collision traveling south and has yet to be located by law enforcement.
Anyone with information on the accident should call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Missing Pensacola Man Found Deceased Near Brewton
November 26, 2014
A missing Pensacola man last seen early Sunday morning has been found deceased near Brewton, AL, as the apparent result of a traffic accident.
Authorities said 39-year old Daniel Eric Doelker was found deceased Wednesday morning along with his vehicle in a deep ditch along Highway 31 near Creamer Dozier Service on Highway 31.
Earlier story:
The Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person, 39-year old Daniel Eric Doelker. He was described as being about 5-feet, 10-inches tall.
Doelker was last seen in the Brewton area November 23 around 1 am. Doelker should be driving a 2004 Toyota Tundra extended cab truck with Florida tag number G699FL.
He is a member of a hunting club off of Mancil Rock Road outside of East Brewton near Highway 29. He had been at the hunting camp over the weekend. Authorities and family members spent most of Tuesday searching for Doelker and his vehicile, including an aerial search. The search was concentrated around the hunting camp, which is an extremely remote area near the Conecuh National Forest, and on the roadways around the camp.
At this point, Escambia County (AL) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said the incident is being treated as if foul play “might” be involved, only because his department works all missing persons cases in that manner until foul play is ruled out.
Anyone who has information or comes in contact with Doelker should notify Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Alabama at (251) 809-2154 or your local law enforcement agency.
Pictured top: The body of a Pensacola man was found in a ditch alongside Highway 31 near Brewton, AL, Thursday morning. Photo by Anthony Pura, WEAR 3, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspect Jailed In Robbery Of Highway 97 Gas Station, Lillian Pharmacy
November 26, 2014
A suspect in the armed robbery of a North Escambia convenience store and a pharmacy in Lillian, AL, is now behind bars in north Mississippi.
William “Jake” McMillan, age 27, was jailed after allegedly committing an armed robbery in Choctaw County, MS. He was arrested after a high speed chase into Montgomery County, MS, and transferred back to the Choctaw County Jail where is being held without bond.
A warrant for McMillan’s arrest was issued last week in Baldwin County, AL, after he was identified on surveillance video as the suspect who robbed the Lillian Pharmacy at gunpoint, making his getaway with about 1,700 hydrocodone pills. A short time before the robbery, he allegedly took an undisclosed amount of cash from a register and safe from his workplace, the Las Vegas Discount Golf & Tennis at Tanger Outlets in Foley.
McMillan has also been named as the suspect in the Friday night armed robbery of the Davisville BP on Highway 97 in Escambia County, FL. He allegedly entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded cash before fleeing in a vehicle. The clerk was uninjured.
Authorities in Mississippi reportedly reviewed the surveillance video from the Davisville BP published on NorthEscambia.com and discovered McMillan appeared to have the same jacket and clothing in his possession at the time of the Mississippi armed robbery.
Once charges are resolved in Mississippi, McMillan is expected to be extradited back to Baldwin County before facing any charged in Escambia County, FL.
Pictured inset: The suspect in a Friday night robbery. Pictured below: The BP station on Highway 97 in Davisville minutes after a Friday night robbery. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Town of Century Employees Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner
November 26, 2014
Employees, family and friends of the Town of Century enjoyed a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday afternoon. The group enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hot dogs with sides and desserts. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Allow Online Florida Lottery Sales
November 26, 2014
Florida lottery players could buy tickets with the click of a mouse instead of having to stop by the corner store, under a proposal filed by Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami.
The proposal filed for the 2015 legislative session, would allow the Florida Lottery to create a program in which people ages 18 and older could buy lottery tickets online. Currently, the lottery sells tickets through more than 13,000 retailers but does not sell tickets online or by mail or fax, according to the agency’s website.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview’s Lathan Signs Softball Letter With Kentucky’s Union College
November 26, 2014
Northview High School senior Angel Lathan signed a letter of intent Tuesday to play softball for the Bulldogs of Union College in Kentucky. The college is a member of the NAIA and competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference in softball. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Farm-City Thanksgiving Meals Distributed To 600 Families
November 26, 2014
As part of Farm-City week, 600 families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties received full Thanksgiving meals Tuesday — much of it locally grown — thanks to the efforts of local farms, food banks and hundreds of FFA and 4-H students. Students from Tate High School’s FFA chapter and local 4-H clubs helped with the Escambia County distribution at the Waterfront Rescue Mission.
The 400 pre-qualified families in Santa Rosa County and 200 in Escambia County received turkeys, collard and turnip greens, sweet potatoes, cornmeal, canned goods and desserts. The sweet potatoes were donated by local farmers and sorted by FFA students from a half dozen schools, and students also picked the collards and turnips from field Monday at the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences West Florida Research and Education Center.
Representatives from the Santa Rosa and Escambia Extension Services were at the distribution sites providing recipe cards and cooking advice.
Farm to City Week is a national effort with the goal to bring about a better understanding between rural and urban people by increasing their knowledge and appreciation for agriculture.
The locally grown produce was harvested at the University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center by participating Ag students from Jay High School, Central High School, Milton High School, Northview High School, Tate High School, Ernest Ward Middle School and King Middle School. [Read more about Monday's activities here....]
Pictures: Students ready for Farm-City Week food distribution Wednesday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
