Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — More and more, Thanksgiving has come to mean food, family, football — and sometimes the house fire that comes from getting all these other things together.
The National Fire Protection Association has reported that, for yet another year, more house fires happened on Thanksgiving than on any other day in the year. Frozen turkeys in deep fryers, mail being placed on the stove, baking in an unclean oven, and forgetting the pots are cooking on the stovetop have all caused many house fires across the country.
Utah is no exception.
"People get busy with everything happening on Thanksgiving, so it's important to pay attention to what's going on in the kitchen," said Salt Lake Fire Capt. Brandt Hancuff. "For some families, alcohol is a part of the holiday, so it's important to wait to get sauced until after the cooking."
To promote safety, the Red Cross recommends:
- When cooking or frying a turkey or other items, stay close and check regularly. Most cooking fires are caused by unattended cooking.
- Move items that can burn away from the stove, including dishtowels, bags, boxes and paper.
- Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from cooking areas.
- Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
- If you see smoke, or if the grease starts to boil when frying food, turn the burner off and carefully remove the pan from the burner using an oven mitt.
- Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby to smother a pan fire. Leave it covered until completely cooled.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent accidental spills.
- Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
- Before going to bed or leaving home, check the kitchen to ensure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.
Although the National Fire Protection Association reports that most Thanksgiving fires start in the kitchen, not all of them do. Candles fall on dining room tables, causing a flammable tablecloth to be engulfed by flames, old space heaters start blowing sparks, also setting something on fire, and running children and pets inadvertently set something ablaze.
There is also the visiting family member who is trying to hide a renewed smoking habit so they leave lit cigarettes near flammable items.
These could happen anytime the family gets together, so why Thanksgiving more than any other day in the calendar?
For Red Cross staff and local firefighters, the basis is in what gets people's attention on Thanksgiving Day. People are cooking for hours, in a rush to get everything perfect for the family, and have many opportunities to step away from a stove. The three football games also give someone a chance to check out the score for a little bit but occasionally get caught in a touchdown celebration.
People also tend to come over with many kids, who are in need of attention, causing eyes to be away from potential hazards.
"Best thing to do with kids is to talk to them before Thanksgiving, telling them, 'This area is hot, so you need to stay away from it,'" said Amanda Ward, regional preparedness manager for the Red Cross of Utah and Nevada. "And then remind them, remind them, remind them."
Local firefighters and area Red Cross staff also noted that Thanksgiving may be the busiest day for house fires, but it is really kicking off one of their busiest seasons.
While Thanksgiving is first in the number of house fires, Christmas Day is second, and Christmas Eve is third. Thanksgiving is the beginning of the house fire season.
The Christmas tree — especially if it is alive and dry — is an incredible danger, especially when decorated with old lights that can spark a blaze or placed next to a heating source like a fireplace.
Despite their warnings, local fire officials believe everyone can have a safe holiday season with friends and family. The key is to prepare for the holidays by making a plan, getting flammable items away from candles and figuring out who is going to watch the kids and pets.
This will give you a better chance of enjoying time with everyone as opposed to evacuating your home and calling 911.
"Predictable is preventable," said Jon Ritchie, chief deputy in the Office of the Utah State Fire Marshal. "Don't overstretch yourself, but you can make sure everything is in order."
