City of San José

SJFD's Firefighter Ben Hammond shares a few safety tips to help you stay safe in the kitchen this Thanksgiving (Watch the video in English | Mire el video en español | Xem video bằng tiếng Việt | 观看普通话视频 | 觀看國語影片).

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! As you prepare your holiday feast, the San José Fire Department wants to remind everyone to stay vigilant and practice fire safety when working in the kitchen. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are more home fires on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year—and the leading cause is unattended cooking. To help keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday, we’ve put together the following tips and resources:

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips:

• Never leave your stove unattended while cooking. Stay in the kitchen while you're frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. If you must leave the room—even for just a moment—turn off the stove. Stay in the home when cooking your turkey—and check on it frequently.
• Create a kid-free zone. Create a space of at least three feet around your stove and other areas where hot food or drinks are prepared.
• Keep your cooking area free of flammable materials. Keep anything that can catch fire, such as food packaging, oven mitts, and towels away from your stovetop.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Handles facing outward are more likely to be bumped into and are easier for children to grab.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Make sure you have the correct type of fire extinguisher and know how to properly use it.
• Avoid turkey fryers. SJFD strongly discourages the use of turkey fryers, as they can lead to severe burns, injuries, and property damage. Grocery stores, food retailers, and restaurants often sell deep-fried turkeys, which can serve as a safe alternative to frying one at home.
• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure they are working properly ahead of the holidays.

In case of grease fire: Smother it by sliding a lid over the pan, turn off the stovetop, and leave the pan covered until it's completely cooled. NEVER try to put out a grease fire with water.
In case of oven or microwave fire: Turn off the heat and keep the door closed until the flames are completely out. If you cannot safely extinguish a fire, get outside quickly, close the door behind you to contain the fire, and call 9-1-1.

For more information, please visit our Fire Safety in the Kitchen webpage. From everyone at the San José Fire Department, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!