ST. LOUIS – Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and celebration—but it’s also the most dangerous day of the year for kitchen fires. St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson shared critical safety tips to keep your holiday free from disaster.
“Make sure the pot handles are turned to the back. Don’t let any kids get close. If you are cooking, make sure the clothing you wear is not loose or flowing. Loose clothing can catch fire if it comes in contact with gas burners or heat,” he said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires, with nearly 1,600 incidents reported each year—more than triple the daily average.
“Turkey fryers are a big risk, especially with the weather turning rainy. People don’t want to get wet, so they move these fryers into the garage or under cover. That’s dangerous—they need to be kept well away from buildings,” Jenkerson added. “Also, make sure the turkey is completely thawed and free of moisture before frying it, so the grease doesn’t overflow or explode.”
As temperatures drop this week, space heaters and fireplaces add to the risk. 15 percent of Thanksgiving house fires are caused by heating equipment.
“When you leave the room, turn the space heater off. Don’t plug it into an extension cord; it needs to go directly into an outlet. Remember, space heaters are only for secondary heating, not your primary source. Use your furnace,” the chief mentioned.
On Thanksgiving alone, firefighters respond to an average of 2,300 home fires nationwide. Many of these are preventable with just a few precautions.
The chief wants everyone to have a safe Thanksgiving, so he recommends keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and having a fire escape plan in place.