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Durham County Fire Marshal Urges Added Caution While Preparing Holiday Meals

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Durham, N.C. – The kitchen becomes the heart of the home for many during the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s also a hectic holiday with big meals that often involve lots of cooking and plenty of distractions – which can lead to losing track of what’s on the stove, in the oven, or frying in oil.

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Shepherd

“Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment,” said Durham County Chief Fire Marshal Jason B. Shepherd. “Unattended cooking is the leading cause of these holiday fires, so we strongly encourage everyone to keep their eyes focused on what they are cooking at all times. This minimizes the likelihood of becoming distracted and experiencing a potential emergency.”

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking was the leading cause of reported home structure fires and civilian fire injuries. It is also the second-leading cause of fire deaths and direct property damage, on average from 2015-2019. On Thanksgiving alone, an estimated 1,400 home cooking fires were reported to fire departments across America – a whopping 228 percent increase over the daily average.

Kids can be a large part of the holiday and may become involved in holiday preparations. It is important to consider age-appropriate activities for children who are not able to independently navigate the kitchen. “Having activities that keep kids out of the kitchen during this busy time is vital,” Shepherd said. “There are kid-friendly Thanksgiving preparations that involve recipes that can be done outside of the kitchen.” 

The following are tips and recommendations from the NFPA for cooking and staying safe this holiday:
  • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
  • Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
  • Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay 3 feet away.
  • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
  • Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
  • Keep knives out of the reach of children.
  • Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
  • Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children, notably up high in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.
  • Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the button.

mealsA deep-fried turkey is on many families’ agenda but, remember that these fryers can lead to severe burns, injuries, and property damage. The NFPA recommends finding grocery stores, food retailers, and restaurants that sell deep-fried turkey.

“If your holiday requires you to deep fry the turkey at home, always use the fryer outdoors on a flat surface, safety away from structures, wooden decks, and covered patios,” Shepherd said. “No matter what, do not be tempted to use the fryer in the garage. “It is imperative that the turkey is completely thawed prior to cooking to prevent fire or explosion hazard.

“And always have the correct kind of fire extinguisher nearby and ready for use. A common fire extinguisher to use is a Class ABC or a Class K for grease fires.”

This NFPA video shows just how fast a fire can get out of control when a turkey fryer is used incorrectly.

 Other important safety guidelines for deep frying a turkey include:
  • To ensure you are using the right amount of oil, place a thawed turkey in the fry pot and add enough water to cover the bird by a half of an inch (½”). Remove the turkey and mark the water level. Dump the water and thoroughly dry the pot and turkey. Fill the pot with oil to the marked level.
  • Do not leave the fryer unattended. Monitor the temperature of the oil with a thermometer to prevent the oil from overheating and catching fire. If the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn off the gas.
  • Raise and lower the turkey slowly to prevent oil splatter, burns, and fire.
  • Keep children and pets away from the fryer to prevent tipping, even after the turkey is done. The oil is dangerously hot for hours.
  • Use your safety tools: Oven mitts, gloves, and safety goggles.
  • Stand upwind of the propane tank and fryer so heat blows away from you.

“Please be safe this holiday weekend.”

For more information, contact Shepherd at 919-560-0663 or at jshepherd@dconc.gov.