Fire Chief John F. Sullivan and the Brookline Fire Department would like to share an update on the ongoing drought conditions, the Town’s outdoor burning regulations, and holiday cooking safety tips ahead of Thanksgiving.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, for the first time in more than 30 days, there were no new fires in the state. The change in weather has resulted in 100 percent containment on several smaller fires, which have been removed from the active fire list. All other fires on the incident list have seen increased containment.
Brookline Fire would like to remind residents that although conditions have improved, and much-needed rain over the weekend brought a welcome range of 1 inch to almost 2.25 inches of precipitation in parts of the state, necessary precautions should still be taken to prevent outdoor fires from starting and spreading. However, the precipitation has at least lowered the ignition potential for any new fire to start significantly.
Open burning is prohibited at all times in the Town of Brookline. To view regulations for fire pits and chimineas, please visit here.
More information on the drought alert can be found here.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Eve ranked second and third, nearly twice the daily average.
According to the NFPA, cooking causes over half (52%) of all reported house fires and more than one in three (36%) home fire injuries. It is also a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%).
To prevent seasonal cooking fires, the Brookline Fire Department wishes to share the following tips from the NFPA so families can prepare holiday meals without the risk of danger:
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.
- Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
If you have any questions about cooking safety, please contact the Brookline Fire Department at 617-730-2272.
