Overview
- Thanksgiving is the top day for home cooking fires, with about 1,446 incidents reported in 2022, a jump of roughly 388% over a typical day, according to NFPA data.
- Fire officials say unattended cooking drives most incidents and note stovetops are frequent ignition points, advising cooks to smother pan fires with a lid and call 911.
- Departments caution against risky turkey deep-frying, urging fully thawed and dry birds, outdoor setups at least 10 feet from structures, close temperature monitoring, and a ready extinguisher.
- The American Red Cross reports cooking causes about 158,400 home fires a year, or 44% of all such fires, and stresses working smoke alarms with regular testing.
- Local agencies report heavier late‑November workloads, with the Red Cross of Colorado citing about 20% more home‑fire responses for late November through December and urging someone stay in the kitchen at all times.