Thanksgiving Day is a fun holiday that many of us look forward to all year. As you plan and prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, be sure to keep safety a focus, too.  With heightened activity in the kitchen and other entertaining going on in your home, you don't want to get distracted and have your holiday go up in smoke. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires. In 2021, there were 1,160 fires on Thanksgiving, which is a 297% increase over the daily average.  
 

Kitchen Safety Tips

• Always stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food so you can check it regularly. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey. Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains away from the stove top.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

If things go wrong and you have a cooking fire…

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home.
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear path out of the home, and that someone has called the fire department.
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stove top. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed

Source: National Fire Protection Association