Serving Up Thanksgiving Fire Safety

The good news is that a little planning goes a long way. Thanksgiving fires stay small. In 3 out of 4 cases, the flames never spread past the item where they started.² A little planning helps keep it that way. These Thanksgiving fire safety tips follow the way the holiday unfolds, each one helping you focus on the food and the people gathered around your table.

Key Takeaways for Thanksgiving Day Safety

Before you start cooking, here are some things you should know:

• Stay home while the turkey roasts and check on it often. If you leave the kitchen while something’s on the stovetop, turn the burner off first.
• Give each dish its own timer so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
• Keep kids and pets at least 3 feet from the stove and anywhere hot food is carried.
• Don’t use an oil-filled turkey fryer, even outdoors. Roast the bird or buy one already fried.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• Make sure your smoke alarms work, and a kitchen fire extinguisher or fire fighting spray is within reach before guests arrive.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips From Prep to Pie

Thanksgiving safety starts well before that first burner clicks on. Follow along and stay safe from week of prep to the last slice of pie.

Before the Guests Arrive

Give the oven a fresh start.

Spilled pie fillings and old crumbs tend to collect on the oven floor. Once the oven heats up, they can smoke or even flare. A quick scrub of the oven floor and stovetop the day before Thanksgiving clears away grease and droppings that could catch fire.³

Check your smoke alarms.

Press the test button on each smoke alarm and look for the manufacture date on the back. If an alarm is 10 years old or older, it’s time for a new one.3 For alarms near the kitchen, make sure they are at least 6 feet from the stove to help cut down on false alarms while you cook.⁴

Keep an extinguisher close by.

Your kitchen fire extinguisher should be easy to grab in a hurry.⁵ Set it nearby while you cook, but away from the stovetop so you never have to reach over flames to get it. Don’t forget to take a look at the pressure gauge, too. If the needle sits in the green, it’s ready to go. Then take a minute to review how to use a fire extinguisher(https://www.kidde.com/safety-hub/fire-extinguishers).

Share your escape plan with guests.

If the family is staying overnight, show them two ways out of their room and where everyone should meet outside.⁵ If you don’t have a plan yet, now’s a good time to make and practice a family fire escape plan.

While the Turkey Roasts

Stay home with the bird.

A big turkey can spend most of the day in the oven. While it’s tempting to dash out for ice or pick up Grandma while it cooks, you should always stay at home and check on it regularly.¹

Give every dish its own timer.

Rolls, casseroles and pies all carry their own cooking times. Separate timers help you keep track of each one, especially the dishes that need a long time in the oven.¹

Turn off the burner before you answer the door.

The stovetop needs your full attention, especially when you’re frying or sautéing.¹ If you have to step away, even for a quick hello, turn off the burner first.³

Save the cozy sweater for dinner.

Your new oversized holiday knit will look great at the table. At the stove, though, long sleeves and loose fabric can brush against a burner. Roll up your sleeves or wear something fitted until the cooking’s done.¹

Create a kid- and pet-free zone.

Keep kids and pets at least 3 feet from the stove and from anywhere hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.¹ For little ones who want to be part of the action, set up games, puzzles or books in another room.⁶

Don’t hesitate to hand off the cooking.

Long days in the kitchen wear anyone down. If you’re running low on energy or have had a drink, let someone else take over the stovetop for a while.⁶

Skip the Turkey Fryer

Deep-friend turkey has plenty of loyal fans. However, oil-filled turkey fryers can cause devastating burns. The National Fire Protection Association strongly discourages using them.¹ Even a backyard setup isn’t worth the risk, so leave the fryer in storage this year.

You can still serve a fried turkey. NFPA suggests buying one from a grocery store or restaurant, or using a fryer that doesn’t use oil.¹

Dinner and Cleanup

Set hot dishes in the center of the table.

It’s harder for elbows, little hands or wagging tails to knock them over there.⁶

Spread out the small appliances.

Slow cookers, roasters and warming trays work overtime on Thanksgiving. Avoid overloading a single outlet, extension cord or power strip with them.⁵

Do a final check.

Before you head to bed or out the door, make sure the oven, burners and small appliances are all turned off.³

What to Do If a Fire Starts on Thanksgiving

Even the most organized host can have a plan flare up. If it happens, stay calm and act fast. Decide right away whether you can safely put it out or need to get everyone outside. Our cooking safety guide covers every scenario in detail. On Thanksgiving, these are the moments most likely to come up.

An Oven Fire With the Turkey Inside

Turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed so the fire runs out of oxygen. Only open it once the flames are completely out. Stand to the side when you do. If you have any doubts, call the fire department.¹

A Spark on the Stovetop

Keep a lid within reach while you cook. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the lid on and let the pan cool for a long time.1 Never pour water on a grease fire, and resist the urge to carry the pan to the sink or outside since moving it can splash burning oil onto you.^{5, 6}

Knowing When to Get Out

If the flames spread of smoke fills the room, get everyone out and close the door behind you. Call 911 once you’re safe. With a full house, do a quick headcount at your meeting spot. And once everyone is out, stay out.⁶

Kidde Helps You Host with Confidence

Hosting comes with a long to-do list this time of year. Make sure Thanksgiving fire safety earns a spot on it.

Good habits do most of the work. The right tools back you up when things get hectic. Before the big day, make sure your smoke alarms are working.⁵ Pair it with our Kitchen Fire Extinguisher or Flame Out Fire Fighting Spray and you’ll have backup within easy reach all day long.

For more than 100 years, families have counted on Kidde to help protect the people and places they love. This Thanksgiving, we’re glad to help you keep the focus on the people around your table.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Kidde.