Firefighters See Spike in Cooking Fires During the Holidays

Cooking fires are the most common call fire departments receive during the holidays. In fact, more structure fires are caused by cooking than any other means. 


More cooking fires are reported on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year. It is around three times as many according to the National Fire Protection Associating. In 2010, 1,370 fires were reported on Thanksgiving Day, a 219 percent increase over the daily average, the NFPA said. From 2006 to 2008, the National Fire Protection Association reported an estimated 4,300 Thanksgiving fires in the United States, resulting in 10 deaths, 50 injuries and $30 million in property loss.

Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday season when people customarily spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking large meals. Here are some tips to keep the holiday feast from turning into a holiday catastrophe.

Watch what you heat. When food is simmering on the stove or cooking in the over, it’s wise to stay in the kitchen and supervise. Don’t step out to go shopping or even to borrow some sugar from the neighbor. Make sure food is being tended to at all times.

Avoid distractions. Try to avoid being distracted by company, television and phones. It’s easy to forget about food on the stove, so make sure you avoid circumstances that pull you away from what is happening in the kitchen. If you must walk away, wear an oven mitt to remind you that something is in the oven.
Make sure your kitchen is equipped with a fire extinguisher or other fire safety equipment. Make sure all smoke alarms are in working order. Keep lids to pots and pans nearby. They come in handy when you need to extinguish any sudden flames or grease fires. Baking soda is also very effective when thrown on fires involving oil.

One of the most dangerous Thanksgiving traditions is deep frying a turkey. This method has become especially popular in the last few years. While it can make for a delicious meal, deep frying can be tricky and dangerous.

The most important factor about deep frying is to make sure it is done outdoors away from buildings and structures. Do not fry a turkey in a garage or on a deck. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 100 feet from any flammable structure. Firefighters dressed in full firefighting gear have given demonstrations on the dangers of lowering a frozen turkey into hot grease. The turkey must be completely thawed before it is submerged in hot oil. Water and grease do not mix and a frozen turkey dropped in hot oil can cause an explosion of flames and hot grease.

Posted in: Cooking Tips