Thanksgiving Is Leading Day For Home Fires

Thanksgiving is just one week away. The National Fire Protection Association reminds those who will be cooking that Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year in the U.S. home cooking fires. An estimated 1,446 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments on Thanksgiving Day in 2023, reflecting a 388 percent increase over the daily average. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day rank second and third.

Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA says “Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday with multiple dishes cooking and baking at the same time, and along with guests, entertaining, and other distractions, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s on the stove or in the oven.” Carli says “Keeping a close eye on what’s cooking and minimizing the likelihood of getting distracted can greatly reduce the risk of cooking fires.” She gives some tips on how you can keep from having the fire department visit you on Thanksgiving.

Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Some types of cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.

When cooking a turkey, remain at home and check it regularly.

Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times and always cook with a lid beside your pan. If a small grease fire starts, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan, then turn off the burner. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and don’t open the oven door till you’re confident the fire is completely out.

The NFPA says cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.