GRFD’s New Holiday Warning: Don’t Let Your Thanksgiving Go Up in Flames

As West Michigan heads into one of its busiest cooking weeks of the year, the Grand Rapids Fire Department is reminding all of us to slow down, pay attention, and keep Thanksgiving safer than the average Thursday night dinner.

You may not know that Thanksgiving is the number-one day for kitchen fires across the country. And here in Grand Rapids, kitchen fire mishaps made up more than a quarter of all structure fires last year. It’s a pattern firefighters see every holiday season: too many dishes going at once, too many people in the house, and just enough distraction to let something get out of control.

According to GRFD, the biggest issue is simple but completely preventable: Don’t walk away from what’s cooking.

If you’re frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling, someone responsible should stay right there in the kitchen. A pot boiling over or a pan that gets too hot can go from manageable to dangerous fast, especially when kids, guests, or a constantly buzzing timer pull your attention away.

If you’ve got something simmering or roasting and don’t need to hover, at least stay on the same floor so you can respond quickly if something starts to smoke or smell off.

And if you’re frying a turkey this year (the ultimate high-risk holiday tradition) there are a few must-follows:

The fryer belongs outside on a flat surface, far from buildings, decks, garages, and anything that could catch fire. The bird has to be fully thawed and completely dry before it ever touches the oil, and whoever is in charge of the fryer shouldn’t walk away from it for even a minute. Also, Kids and pets should be kept clear, and a grease-rated fire extinguisher should be close enough to grab without thinking.

GRFD is also reminding people that fire risk doesn’t stop in the kitchen. If anyone in the home smokes, the safest option is to use sturdy, non-combustible ashtrays (metal or glass) and never toss ashes or butts outside near leaves or landscaping.

And as temperatures drop, people using alternative heating like space heaters need to pay attention to their electrical circuit load. If a breaker trips, that outlet isn’t safe for a heater. And no matter how cold it gets, ovens and stovetops should never be used to heat a home.

The department also encourages swapping traditional candles for LED versions, especially with guests moving around the house, and making sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are working before the holiday rush kicks in.

Thanksgiving should be full of good food, loud families, and maybe a little chaos. But, hopefully none of it involves firefighters at your door.