GREENSBORO, N.C. — You're dropping your turkey in the grease and BOOM a fire ignites. You may think this is a rookie move, but this actually happens more often than you think.
We want to help you avoid that scene. Greensboro Fire Captain Chris Heyn joined "2 Wants to Know" to address potential fire risks ahead of the holidays.
Thanksgiving Fire Facts
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average.
- Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
- Cooking accounts for half (53%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (38%) home fire injuries. It is also a leading cause of home fire deaths (18%).
- On Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,160 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments in 2021, reflecting a 297% increase over the daily average.
Winter Holiday Fire Facts
- U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of four civilian fire deaths, 33 civilian fire injuries, and $14 million in direct property damage.
- Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.
- Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs. Eight percent were started by candles.
- Roughly two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.
- Candle fires peak in December and January with 11% of candle fires in each of these months.
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
- Year-round, one-third (33%) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to almost half in December when candles started 46% of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (19%) of decoration fires.
Turkey Fryer Warning
Fire Captain Chris Heyn said turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe. These fryers use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns. If you want a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving meal, purchase it from a grocery store or restaurant or buy an electric turkey fryer.
Top Safety Tips
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay at home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer, or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children. Keep them up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks, or bags.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
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