For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations.

Keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there’s a lot of activity and people at home. As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.

Thanksgiving Fire Statistics
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average.
Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%).
On Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2022, reflecting a 399 percent increase over the daily average.
Source: NFPA Research

Top Safety Tips
Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top 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 three 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 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 — up high in a locked cabinet.
Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

The latest trend in preparing a Turkey is Deep Frying. However, if you don't take precautions, you may end up with an injury or fire.

Deep Fryers can be dangerous because:

*Many units easily tip over, spilling the five gallons of hot oil within the cooking pot.
*If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the
burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
*Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.
*With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
*The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

The Modena Fire Company wants you and your family to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Just follow these simple cooking and safety rules:

Deep Fried Turkey Cooking Tips:

Follow your fryer’s instructions.
Only deep fry smaller turkeys—up to 12 pounds.
Use oils with high smoke points such as peanut, canola and safflower. Peanut oil adds flavor, but it can be a concern if guests have peanut allergies.
To determine how much oil you’ll need, put the turkey in the basket and place in the pot. Add water until it reaches one to two inches above the turkey. Lift the turkey out, and use a ruler to measure the distance from the water to the top of the fryer. Pour out the water and dry the fryer completely.
Remember that it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to heat the oil, depending on the outside temp. wind and weather.
Before frying, pat the turkey dry with paper towels to keep the hot oil from spattering and popping.
Slowly lower the turkey into the oil, and maintain an oil temp of 350ºF. Fry turkey for three to four minutes per pound or about 35 to 42 minutes for a 10- to 12-pound turkey.

Safety Tips:

*Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn.
*Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages.
*Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
*Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you don't watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to
heat until it catches fire.
*Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the
cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
*To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
*Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from
oil splatter.
*Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix, and water causes oil to spill over,
causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.

The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator.

Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 9-1-1 for help.
Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots remains dangerously hot, hours after use.