(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) According to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), Thanksgiving is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires in the United States.

An estimated 1,139 home cooking fires were reported to fire departments in the U.S. in 2024 on Thanksgiving Day, which reflects an increase of 321 percent over the daily average.

Christmas Day and Christmas Eve also ranked as the second and third leading days of the year for cooking fires, with both of them carrying nearly twice the daily average. 

Some tips and recommendations from the NFPA to help everyone cook safely on Thanksgiving can be found below, courtesy of a release from the NFPA:

• Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Some types of cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.
• When cooking a turkey, remain at home and check it regularly.
• Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that require longer cook times.
• Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, and towels at least three feet away from the cooking area.
• Avoid long sleeves and hanging fabrics that can come in contact with a heat source.
• Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If a small grease fire starts, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan, then turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you’re confident the fire is completely out, standing to the side as you do. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the fire department for assistance.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried. Hot foods and liquids should be placed away from table and counter edges.

NFPA also strongly discourages the use of turkey fryers which use cooking oil, because this can cause devastating burns.

People can use an air fryer, electric turkey fryer or infared turkey frier for a safer alternative, which mimics the taste of a turkey that is oil-fried turkey.

People can also consider buying a fried turkey from either a grocery store or a restaurant.