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Thanksgiving Fire Safety

The holidays bring joy, family, and, of course, lots of time in the kitchen! With so much going on, it’s a great idea to keep fire safety in mind to ensure your Thanksgiving celebration stays happy and worry-free.

As you prepare that delicious feast, here are a few simple safety tips to help you focus on fun, food, and family while keeping everyone safe.

A roasted turkey in an oven.

Facts About Thanksgiving and Fire Safety

Did you know that Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for home cooking fires? Here are some eye-opening stats from the National Fire Protection Association:

  • In 2022, fire departments responded to 1,610 cooking fires on Thanksgiving—that’s three times the daily average.
  • The leading cause of these fires? Unattended cooking.
  • Cooking equipment is involved in nearly half of all home fires and ties with heating equipment as the second most common cause of home fire deaths.

Thinking of Deep Frying Your Turkey? Watch Out for These Hazards:

While fried turkey can be a treat, using a turkey fryer comes with risks:

  • Tipping Hazards: Turkey fryers can tip over, spilling hot oil everywhere.
  • Oil Overflow: Overfilling the pot can cause oil to spill out when the turkey is added.
  • Frozen Turkeys: A partially frozen bird can cause oil to splatter dangerously.
  • Overheating: Fryers can overheat, sparking a fire.
  • Burn Risk: The pot, lid, and handles get extremely hot, posing a burn danger.

Quick Tips to Share

Share these graphics with your family and friends this holiday season! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Safety tip: Use turkey fryers outdoors, not on a wooden deck/garage.
Safety message about using turkey fryers outdoors, not on wood or in a garage.
A safety poster reminding to practice safe cooking on Thanksgiving, with a graphic of an adult and child near a stove.
A safety message about being careful while cooking on Thanksgiving to prevent fires, with an illustration of a woman and child near a stove.
Safety tip: Use turkey fryers outdoors, not on a wooden deck/garage.
Safety message about using turkey fryers outdoors, not on wood or in a garage.
A safety poster reminding to practice safe cooking on Thanksgiving, with a graphic of an adult and child near a stove.
A safety message about being careful while cooking on Thanksgiving to prevent fires, with an illustration of a woman and child near a stove.

Source for Content: National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Fire Administration.