Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude and the comforting aroma of a home-cooked meal. But with ovens, slow cookers and other appliances working overtime, your kitchen can become the busiest room in the house — and the riskiest.
In fact, Thanksgiving sees a 240% spike in home cooking fires compared to all other days. Cooking remains the top cause of residential fires, accounting for over a third of all incidents, with around half starting from stoves. Electrical issues play a role too — one in 10 kitchen fires involve an electrical malfunction, and 35% happen when appliances are left unattended. Each year, these fires lead to an average of 4,150 injuries and more than $570 million in property damage.
Before you gather, follow these simple cooking and electrical safety tips to keep your holiday festive instead of fried:
- Inspect cords before use: Replace any frayed, cracked or damaged cords to reduce fire risk.
- Plan your cooking schedule: Stagger your appliance use to avoid running too many high-wattage devices at the same time.
- Skip extension cords for big appliances: Ovens, roasters and fryers should connect directly to wall outlets to prevent overheating.
- Avoid overloading power strips: Connecting multiple strips together, called daisy-chaining, can lead to overheating and fires.
- Give appliances space: Keep roasters, slow cookers and other heat-producing devices at least a few inches apart to prevent overheating and allow proper ventilation.
- Keep cords and outlets dry: Water near electricity can cause dangerous shocks or short circuits.
- Move cords out of reach of kids and pets: Prevent accidental pulls, chews or trips that could cause injury or damage.
- Don’t run cords under rugs or across walkways: Hidden cords can overheat or become tripping hazards, especially in busy kitchens and dining areas.
- Unplug appliances when finished: Even idle devices can overheat or malfunction, if left plugged in.
- Test smoke alarms and have a fire extinguisher ready: A quick check helps make sure you’re prepared for any emergency.
For more safety information, visit sce.com/safety.
