Thanksgiving Most Dangerous Day for Home Fires

DENVER (Nov. 24, 2020) - With an increasing number of Coloradans staying home for Thanksgiving as part of the largest decrease in seasonal travel since the Great Recession, many folks may be trimming the turkey on their own for the first time. While staying home is the safest thing you can do this year, be forewarned: Cooking is the leading cause of all residential building fires and injuries, and more home fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. The sheer number of cooks hitting the kitchen on Thanksgiving results in a national home fire risk three times that of an average day.

"In 2020, the name of the game for Thanksgiving is protecting other people," said Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. "That means staying home and, if you're cooking, taking good care to avoid common kitchen missteps that can strain our health system and expose first responders to even greater risk."

The number one cause of cooking fires is leaving the kitchen unattended – something that's easily avoided. A few key steps can keep you, your home, and your loved ones safe.

• Avoid an overcooked meal (or worse!) by having someone on cooking duty at all times. If you have to leave, turn off cooking equipment first.
• Limit distractions by planning television time, video chats, chores, and other activities outside of meal preparation time.
• Smother grease fires with a metal lid or baking soda. Never use water. Make sure to turn off the heat first.
• If a fire starts in the oven, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• Everyone loves hanging out in the kitchen, which can lead to bumps, spills, and other injuries – especially when kids are involved. To minimize accidents and divert traffic, put snacks, games, and toys in another room.
• If you are sleepy or have consumed too much alcohol, step away from cooking and designate a "driver" to take the lead.
• Keep dish towels, oven mitts, paper products, and other flammable materials away from heat.
• Have a fully functional fire extinguisher handy for emergencies.

If you opt to fry your turkey, remember these three key steps:

• Move the fryer away from your home. Your fryer should be set up on a stable, non-combustible surface that's at least ten feet away from your home. Don't use it inside your home, in your garage, or on a deck or patio as that creates a serious fire risk. Avoid operating the fryer near or under trees. Open space as far from your home as possible is your best bet, and never place your fryer directly on your lawn or dirt.
• Don't overfill the fryer. Read all the directions carefully, ahead of time, before beginning the frying process. Be sure to fill the fryer only to the fill line, even if you think you may need more oil. Overfilling the fryer may cause it to overflow, especially when you add the turkey. Hot oil spillover, in turn, presents a serious burn hazard and fire risk.
• Important: Properly thaw your turkey. If you try and deep fry a frozen turkey, it will explode and you will start a fire. A frozen turkey must be completely defrosted before frying, so read thawing directions when you buy your bird. If you are thawing it in the fridge, leave the turkey to thaw for six hours per pound, or three days for a 10-12-pound bird. If you are thawing your turkey in cold water in your sink, let it thaw for 30 minutes per pound – and make sure to change the water every 30 minutes to ensure it stays cold.

About AAA – The Auto Club Group

AAA Colorado is a proud part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the second-largest AAA club in North America with more than 14 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.