November 10, 2015 – When most of us think about Thanksgiving, images of turkey, stuffing and time spent with loved ones typically come to mind, not fire hazards. However, an increased risk of fire is, in fact, a reality of Thanksgiving. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day.

NFPA’s latest cooking estimates shows that there were 1,550 cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2013, reflecting a 230 percent increase over the daily average. Home cooking fires also spike on other major U.S. holidays, including Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Memorial Day weekend. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.

“A combination of factors collectively increase the risk of home cooking fires on Thanksgiving,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “People are often preparing multiple dishes with lots of guests and other distractions, which can make it all too easy to forget what’s on the stove. That’s when cooking mishaps are most likely to occur.”

While the number of cooking fires spikes on holidays, it’s also one of the leading causes of home fire year-round. Between 2009 and 2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 162,400 home cooking fires per year. These fires resulted in an annual average of 430 civilian fire deaths, 5,400 reported injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.

The few extra minutes it takes to make sure your kitchen and cooking operations are safe will pay dividends in the long run. By keeping your kitchen and cooking equipment safe you reduce the chance of fire and injury to you or one of your guests. The National Fire Protection Association has compiled a web page that is full of information to help keep your Thanksgiving fire safe. Take a few minutes to view the link below, and on behalf of the Officers and Firefighters of the Willingboro Fire Department, have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

http://www.nfpa.org/press-room/news-releases/2015/thanksgiving-day-presents-hidden-hazards