Cooking Safety: The Average Number of Kitchen Fires More Than Triples on Thanksgiving Day
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Cooking Safety: The Average Number of Kitchen Fires More Than Triples on Thanksgiving Day

Many home fires start very quickly, but taking a few simple precautions can greatly reduce your risks and keep you safe this Thanksgiving

November 11, 2024

There's nothing wrong with having a roaring fire this Thanksgiving as long as it's in your fireplace, not your kitchen. The statistics are sobering: in 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to approximately 1,610 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day, a 399 percent increase compared to a typical day. It remains the single most hazardous day for cooking-related fires each year. With holiday gatherings and meals already underway across North Carolina and nationwide, awareness and preparation are essential to staying safe this season.

Preventing Thanksgiving fires

Thanksgiving meals are a labor of love, but the combination of multiple dishes, crowded kitchens, and distractions dramatically raises the fire risk. To keep your home safe:

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms now. A working alarm can alert you to hidden dangers before they escalate.
  • Never leave cooking unattended. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving fires, making vigilance non-negotiable.
  • Avoid loose or flowing clothing around open flames. Including long sleeves, fabric can ignite within seconds.
  • Keep flammable items, like towels and paper—away from stoves and ovens.
  • Protect little ones and pets, keep them out of the kitchen. Hot surfaces and boiling liquids can burn in an instant.
  • Turn pot handles inward. Prevent spills that can scald or ignite grease.
  • Clear the kitchen of clutter and traffic. Fewer obstacles mean fewer chances for spills or accidents.

Frying your turkey is extra risky

Deep-frying your turkey is especially dangerous. Each year, grease-related fires, burns, and property loss mount during Thanksgiving. If you plan to fry your bird:

  • Completely thaw and dry the turkey, any moisture can cause oil to erupt dangerously.
  • Fry only outdoors, place the burner at least 10 feet from your home on level ground.
  • Use the correct fill level for oil, overfilling causes spills that ignite quickly.
  • Never leave the fryer unattended.
  • Keep children and pets well back from the frying setup.
  • Have a multipurpose fire extinguisher rated for grease fires within reach, water or regular extinguishers are dangerous with oil fires.

If a fire happens

Many injuries happen when people try to extinguish fires without proper tools or training. If a cooking or grease fire starts and you do not have a proper extinguisher, or the fire spreads quickly—evacuate immediately. Call 911 once you're safe outside.

Most homeowner insurance policies cover fire damage, which is far preferable to risking injury or loss. Stay safe, follow caution, and enjoy Thanksgiving the right way.