KITCHEN SAFETY AWARENESS: Tips for Avoiding Thanksgiving Fire Hazards

Kitchen Safety Around Thanksgiving: Fire Prevention Tips You Should Know

The holiday season is a time for family gatherings, festive meals, and making memories—but it’s also a peak time for kitchen fires. With Thanksgiving as one of the busiest cooking days of the year, kitchens are at an increased risk of fire accidents. In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates that Thanksgiving sees an average of more than 2,000 cooking fires, which is four times the daily average. For each year from 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 2,300 residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day. These fires caused an estimated annual average of 5 deaths, 25 injuries and $26 million in property loss. At PuroClean, we’re dedicated to offering local New Hampshire fire damage solutions that help protect homes across the state and into southern Maine. Here’s a story, some preventative tips, and a look at how recent initiatives can help make your kitchen safer this season.

A Costly Reminder: The Case of the Wooden Cutting Board Fire

Last year an incident we responded to a kitchen fire in Rockingham County, that started when a wooden cutting board was accidentally left on a stove burner. The flames ignited quickly, but the real damage was caused by the thick smoke that spread through the entire lower level of the home, causing extensive soot damage to white walls, furniture, and cabinetry. This kind of smoke and fire damage requires professional remediation, as the soot particles can cling to surfaces and infiltrate fabrics, leaving lasting odors and stains. Learn more about soot damage in our blog titled BEYOND THE BLAZE: Navigating the threats of soot and professional fire and soot remediation solutions we provide throughout New Hampshire.

This incident highlights how seemingly small oversights can lead to extensive property damage, especially around the holidays when kitchens are more crowded and busy. Avoiding fires requires a focus on kitchen safety and making thoughtful changes to prevent accidents. Let’s face it, the holiday cheer and kitchen multitasking don’t always mix!  With a few simple precautions, your festive celebrations won’t go up in smoke this holiday season.

Preventative Tips for a Safer Thanksgiving Kitchen

To reduce the risk of kitchen fires this holiday season, consider some simple but effective swaps:

Never Leave Cooking Unattended: This is especially important during Thanksgiving when multiple dishes are cooking simultaneously. Use timers, assign a “kitchen watch” to someone at all times, and remember that unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires.

Switch Out Wooden and Cloth Kitchen Items: Traditional wooden cutting boards, cloth oven mitts, and fabric trivets are flammable and can ignite if left too close to open flames. Replacing these with flame-resistant options—like silicone oven mitts, stone trivets, and flame-resistant cutting boards—can add an extra layer of safety.

Choose Battery-Operated Candles Over Open Flames: Many families like to add a festive glow to their holiday table with candles, but unattended candles are a common fire risk. Instead, opt for battery-operated LED candles, which can provide the same ambiance without the danger of open flames.

Clear Cooking Areas: It’s easy for kitchen counters to become cluttered during holiday prep. Keep flammable items such as paper towels, kitchen towels, and plastic bags away from stovetops and other hot surfaces.

A New Incentive: Rebates to Go Electric

Hosting Thanksgiving with an open flame stovetop? There is no better time than now to your your kitchen safer and more efficient. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, there’s now a great incentive in 2025 to upgrade your kitchen appliances to electric options, reducing both fire risk and gas exposure. Many gas stoves emit pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and methane, which can impact indoor air quality. Switching to electric or induction cooktops eliminates the need for open flames and reduces indoor air pollution, making your kitchen safer and healthier.

The Inflation Reduction Act offers up to $840 in rebates for those who choose electric or induction cooktops, as well as up to $500 for households that need additional electrical work for installation. These incentives make it more affordable than ever to replace gas stoves with safer, modern electric options, helping homeowners reduce their risk of both fire and harmful gas exposure. You can find additional information and updates regarding the IRA Rebate Programs in New Hampshire by visiting the NH Department of Energy: Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates.

PuroClean’s Fire Damage Restoration Solutions

Whether preparing a traditional Thanksgiving, savory feast for a large guest list or simply using the stove or oven to reheat leftovers, remember that fire safety is as important as the meal itself and preparation is the key to both. Taking the necessary precautions to prevent accidents is critical. Taking these small but impactful precautions can help you have a safer, worry-free holiday season.

However, if a kitchen fire does occur, professional fire and smoke remediation is essential to fully restore your home. Smoke damage can be pervasive, infiltrating surfaces and leaving behind strong odors and stains that regular cleaning can’t remove. Our team at PuroClean is equipped with expertise and are prepared to deal with smoke cleanup and fire damage repairs of any size.

For Fire Damage Restoration in New Hampshire and Maine, Call PuroClean’s Remediation Experts

Enjoy a disaster-free holiday season with these safety measures. In case of fire damage, contact PuroClean’s restoration experts for prompt and professional services. We cover residential and commercial losses. Our fire restoration technicians to remediate fire and smoke damage, restoring your home and giving you peace of mind. Contact (603) 664-3727 today!