Thanksgiving and Fires
Did you know that Thanksgiving is also the leading day for home cooking fires? In fact, three times as many home cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. But here’s the good news, with preparation and common sense, many home cooking fires can be avoided. Follow these simple tips to reduce the risk of fire in your home during Thanksgiving:
- Do not leave stoves, ovens, and ranges unattended—stay in the kitchen so you can keep your eyes on the food.
- Make sure to keep children away from the stove as the steam or splash from the food on the stove can cause
serious burns. - Roll up your sleeves or wear short sleeves while cooking so your clothes do not start on fire.
- Set timers to keep track of cook times.
- Keep pot holders and food wrappers away from heat sources while cooking.
- After your guests leave, be sure all cooking appliances are off and all candles are blown out.
- Call 9-1-1 immediately if an oven fire occurs!
When deep frying turkeys there are a number of things to remember:
- Only use an approved turkey fryer with four legs and a built-in thermostat so proper oil temperature can be maintained. Make sure the fryer cannot tip over, a major cause of most fires.
- Fry outdoors, away from buildings and other combustible items. Never use a fryer indoors. Keep children and pets away while frying.
- Follow instructions on what size turkey should be used, how it should be cooked and what type of oil to use.
- Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dry. Do not stuff the bird and don’t forget to take out the bag of gizzards. Lower the turkey into the hot oil slowly.
- Never leave the fryer unattended. Wear fry gloves; regular oven mittens may not be insulated enough.
- Splashing oil can cause a flash fire and serious burns, so be careful.
For a printable Thanksgiving Safety brochure to share with others, please click here.
NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. These fryers can lead to devastating burns and destruction of property. For more information on what you need to know about the dangers of turkey fryers click here.