As people start their Thanksgiving cooking this year, please keep fire safety in mind, the National Fire Protection Association urges.
Thanksgiving Day is the most common day for home cooking fires to break out in the U.S., according to the organization. On Thanksgiving Day in 2021, fire departments across the U.S. reported receiving about triple the number of daily home cooking fires compared to the daily average. (Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the second- and third-most risky.)
It’s easy to get distracted while cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but staying focused on what you’re doing and not leaving those pots unattended are critical matters of safety, says Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at the National Fire Protection Association.
“Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday with multiple dishes cooking and baking at the same time, along with lots of guests, entertaining and other distractions that can make it easy to lose sight of what’s on the stove or in the oven,” she says. “With all these factors at play, it’s not surprising that the number of cooking fires spikes so dramatically.”
Here are a few of the association’s tips and recommendations to stay safe while cooking this Thanksgiving: