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Fire officials give tips for Thanksgiving cooking safety

“Don’t let a fire ruin this special day with your family and loved ones,” State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said.

November 27, 2024

2 minutes to read

As Thanksgiving tables are set and turkeys are cooked, State fire officials are encouraging the public to practice fire safety in the kitchen.

Thanksgiving is the number one day for home fires in Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said in a statement. Since 2019, there have been 705 Thanksgiving Day residential fires in Massachusetts, doubling the second-highest Christmas Eve total, the statement said.

“Don’t let a fire ruin this special day with your family and loved ones,” Davine said. “Practice fire safety when cooking and heating your home, and be sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that can alert you to danger.”

Thanksgiving fire safety tips

Davine outlined several ways to stay safe this Thanksgiving, whether you’re an experienced chef, it’s your first time in the kitchen, or you’re a guest at the table.

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Make sure all of your smoke alarms are functioning
Never disable smoke alarms

Staying clean in and out of the kitchen

Clean up any grease spills
Move flammable items like groceries and towels away from stovetops
Keep pan and pot holders turned inward to prevent spills
Keep an eye on children and make sure they stay away from the stove
Only use the oven for cooking, avoid using it for heating up or storage

Keep track of your foods

Stay near any cooking food on a stovetop
Set a timer when baking or roasting
Be cautious of clothing near fires

Practicing kitchen safety when cooking

If a fire starts in the oven or microwave, shut the door, turn off the appliance, and call 911
If a fire is burning in the pan, cover it with a lid or cookie sheet
Never try to move a burning pan or douse it with water

The statement also warned against deep frying turkeys, saying fire experts “strongly discourage” using outdoor gas-filed turkey fryers. A turkey fryer fire in New Bedford in 2020 caused “severe injuries” and displaced around 30 people, the statement said. Instead, the statement said to opt for an “oil-less” fryer instead for a safer option.

Carbon monoxide is another big worry on Thanksgiving, the statement said. Experts say that ovens can be a big hazard if they are used for several hours in a row, like when cooking a turkey. In order to remedy potential poisoning, the statement said, use a kitchen exhaust fan and crack a window for some fresh air.

Home heating can also be a cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. The statement said furnaces need a check-up before long periods of use and chimneys should be cleaned before the beginning of heating season.