Keep fire safety in mind when cooking Thanksgiving feasts

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more home cooking fires occur in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day than any other day during the year.

Because many families and friends will come together to cook during the holidays, it is important to take some simple precautions to keep everyone and their homes safe.

In 2023, State Farm, the country’s largest insurer, paid over $237 million for nearly 3,400 grease/cooking fire claims.

In Delaware, State Farm paid over $1.6 million for more than 20 claims, ranking the state at No. 32 for cooking/grease fires.

There are some basic guidelines everyone should know about home cooking safety. First, always keep an eye on what is cooking/frying/grilling/boiling/broiling, and be sure to check the food regularly. Using the oven or stovetop while sleepy or after consuming alcohol is not a good idea, since staying alert will be a challenge.

Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from oven, stovetop, grill and other heat sources.

Keep a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby, and make sure all smoke alarms are working.