With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, you likely have a long grocery list and a lot of shopping to do. There are plenty of mouths to feed when you invite family and friends into your home, and it’s easy to get distracted when you’re preparing turkey, stuffing, and all the sides that go with Thanksgiving dinner. But it’s not just the guests you should be preparing for when the holiday comes around.
Cooking remains the number one cause of house fires in Canada. They account for roughly 22% of all house fires in Canada. Specifically, cooking that gets left unattended is a major cause of house fires, and the damage can be more extensive because there was no one present to intervene.
Cooking fires can spread faster than you might think due to the presence of oils and grease. Any fire that gets larger than a beach ball can spread rapidly. Not only will that be enough to ruin Thanksgiving dinner, but it also means you’ll be left dealing with a fire insurance claim.
How to Deal with a Fire Insurance Claim
In the aftermath of a Thanksgiving fire, you will have to file a claim with your insurer. Once this happens, the insurer will send an adjuster to assess the extent of the damage and recommend how much the insurer should pay.
It’s important to know that the adjuster does not work for you or represent your interests. If you want someone to represent your interests in the process, you will need to hire an insurance lawyer or a public adjuster in Ontario.
They will help you communicate with the insurer and make sure you do not miss anything valuable on your claim. If there is a dispute with your insurance company that you cannot agree on, an insurance lawyer may be the more effective option, as they can continue to represent you in a legal dispute while still doing everything a public adjuster can.
Thanksgiving Fire Prevention Tips
Avoiding a cooking fire in the first place is probably the best way to ensure you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. These fire prevention tips will help keep your Thanksgiving safe, so you do not have to worry about making a fire insurance claim:
- Remain in the kitchen while you are cooking so that you can keep an eye on food and stop fires from happening in the first place.
- Do not leave home when your turkey is cooking. Check it regularly.
- Do not leave home with kitchen appliances turned on.
- Move flammable materials away from the stove, including paper, cloth, oils, and grease, as these can catch and spread fire rapidly.
- Never leave candles unattended or alone in a room with children.
- Test your smoke alarms before dinner to make sure they are all working. There should be one on every floor of your house.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby whenever you are cooking.
- If a fire begins and you do not feel safe putting it out, or it reaches the size of a beach ball, it is time to evacuate your home and call fire services.
Cooking fires can be extremely damaging and even deadly. Take precautions to fireproof your kitchen, and make sure you do not leave food unattended on the stove.