Firefighters urge fire safety precautions ahead of Thanksgiving
Maile Sipraseuth
IDAHO Falls, Idaho (KIFI)– As families gather around the table each Thanksgiving, kitchens across the country become the site of a surprising holiday hazard: cooking fires. In 2023 alone, Thanksgiving Day saw more than 1,400 home cooking fires—almost 388 percent higher than a typical day.
Local News 8 stopped by the Idaho Falls Fire Station to speak with Fire Marshal Jim Newton about kitchen fire safety.
Starting off with the star of Thanksgiving dinner: deep fried turkey. While delicious, it can be extremely dangerous if you’re not careful.
“So when you’re cooking the turkey, a lot of common mistakes with deep frying a turkey is that they don’t allow the turkey to thaw out all the way. So it’s partially frozen or fully frozen. That introduces water, hot oil, and then that can cause the oil to overflow, which cause it can cause a fire. also not turning the flame off. So if you’re going to deep fry a turkey before you drop the turkey in, turn the flame off, drop the turkey, and then you can light the flame back up again. So if oil does overload, it doesn’t hit that open flame and catch fire,” Newton said, “If you’re going to deep fried turkey, make sure it’s ten feet away from any structure or any kind of, combustible source.”
Studies show that Thanksgiving day has significantly higher home cooking fires than an average day.
“Statistically speaking, it is three times more likely that a cooking fire will happen during Thanksgiving holidays,” Newton said.
According to NFPA, Thanksgiving Day saw an estimated 1,446 home cooking fires in 2023, roughly 388 percent higher than the average day.
Newton emphasized that it matters where the deep frying takes place.
“Don’t cook it on a wood deck, don’t cook it inside on carpet. You know, make sure that you’re outside and you have proper extinguishing materials, such as a fire extinguisher. Don’t use water on oil. Same goes for in the kitchen as for outside, just don’t use water on oil,” Newton said.
If you want a safer alternative to deep fried turkey, Newton suggested to singing an infrared fryer with propane, smoked turkey, having it professionally prepared or using the oven.
The Idaho Falls Fire Department sent out a press release with tips on how to stay safe in the kitchen during the holidays:
Never leave cooking unattended. Stay in the kitchen, set a timer, and minimize distractions. A single pan of oil can reach 700°F in minutes and ignite.
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove. Turn pot handles inward to prevent spills and burns.
Handle grease fires safely. Never use water. Turn off the heat and slide a lid over the pan or use baking soda to smother small fires.
Keep your kitchen clean. Grease buildup on stovetops, ovens, and range hoods is highly flammable. Wipe surfaces after cooking and deep-clean monthly.
Be prepared with alarms and an extinguisher. Test smoke alarms monthly. Keep a Class K or A/B/C fire extinguisher accessible and remember PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
Maintain a clear cooking area and avoid electrical overloads. Keep towels, paper, and bags away from burners. Don’t overload outlets or use multiple high-wattage appliances on the same circuit.
Plan and practice your escape route. Every home should have two exits per room and a designated outdoor meeting spot. Practice twice a year, including at night.