How to Prevent Fires on Thanksgiving

(WPRI) – Firefighters across the country are warning people to be safe ahead of a busy holiday for firefighters.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are three times more cooking fires on Thanksgiving than the daily average.

There were approximately 1,610 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2022, a 399% increase over the daily average.

Following these safety tips can help prevent your Thanksgiving feast from going up in flames:

Stay in the kitchen

Unattended cooking was the leading factor in both cooking fires and fire deaths. Always keep an eye on cooking food on the stove. If there is a turkey in the oven, do not leave the house and check on it regularly.

Keep children away

Children should always keep a distance of at least one meter from a hot stove. Try to create a child-free zone in your kitchen to avoid accidents.

The stove stays clean

Remove fat near the oven. Also, make sure there are no oven mitts, utensils, or tea towels nearby.

Clear the area

Remove toys, bags and other items from the kitchen floor. Make sure there is nothing in the area that could cause you to trip.

Do not deep fry your turkey

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, frying food poses the greatest risk of cooking fires.

Not only are turkey pots easy to tip over, but any cooking oil that comes into contact with a burner can cause a major fire. The oil can also overheat to the point of combustion. If a turkey is not completely thawed, the oil may also leak.

If you choose to deep fry your turkey, be careful not to overfill the deep fryer. The turkey fryer should be placed outdoors on a solid surface and a safe distance from buildings or combustible materials.

For more safety tips for roasting a turkey, click here.