COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home cooking fires in the United States, with an estimated 1,139 fires reported to fire departments on Thanksgiving Day in 2024, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
That figure represents a 321% increase over the average number of cooking fires reported on a typical day. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve rank second and third, respectively, with nearly twice the daily average.
The NFPA said cooking equipment was involved in 80% of all fires reported to U.S. fire departments on Thanksgiving, based on the annual average from 2020 through 2024. Those fires accounted for 35% of related civilian injuries. No civilian deaths were reported in Thanksgiving cooking fires during that five-year period.
Overall, cooking causes approximately 48% of reported home fires, 35% of home fire injuries and 16% of home fire deaths. Unattended cooking is the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and related fatalities.
The NFPA is urging people to take precautions while preparing holiday meals, particularly when multiple dishes, guests and other distractions compete for attention.
Safety recommendations include:
- Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop, especially when frying or sautéing with oil.
- Stay home while cooking a turkey and check it regularly.
- Use timers to track cooking times.
- Keep oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels and other combustible items at least 3 feet from cooking areas.
- Avoid wearing loose sleeves or hanging fabrics that could contact a heat source.
- Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, slide the lid over it, turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool. Do not remove the lid.
- If an oven fire occurs, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Contact the fire department if there are any doubts or concerns.
- Keep children and pets at least 3 feet from stoves and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried. Keep hot items away from table and counter edges.
The NFPA also strongly discourages using turkey fryers that require cooking oil because of the risk of serious burns. Safer alternatives include infrared fryers, air fryers and electric turkey fryers. Consumers can also purchase fried turkeys from grocery stores or restaurants.
More Thanksgiving cooking safety information is available through the National Fire Protection Association at nfpa.org.
Last Updated on November 12, 2026 by AVC News
