• Residents can find an easy holiday safety cheat sheet at Detroitmi.gov/fire
• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home-fire injuries
• DFD recommends against using a turkey fryer with oil for Thanksgiving due to high risk of fires

As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) urges all residents to stay alert in the kitchen and take proactive steps to prevent holiday fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home-fire injuries, and Thanksgiving Day sees a particularly high number of cooking-related incidents.

“We at the Detroit Fire Department are committed to educating the public about best practices for holiday cooking safety,” said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. “Our goal is simple: keep our community safe, ensure every family gathering ends with gratitude — not tragedy.”

We lowered a frozen turkey into an overfilled turkey fryer to demonstrate what happens when you make both of the most common mistakes when frying a turkey at home. 

Holiday gatherings bring together cooking, guests, and often a bit more distraction than usual — and that combination can be risky. “The holidays often bring with them catastrophic fires due to the mix of parties, cooking and unattended cooking,” noted Fire Marshal Don Thomas. “Though the Detroit Fire Department stands ready to help, we’d much rather prevent fires than respond to them.”

And for those tempted by the trendy turkey fryer, a strong caution: “Those oil-based turkey fryers are extremely dangerous,” emphasized Captain Ed Davis of the Fire Marshal Division. “They can turn into disaster in seconds if directions are not followed to a tee. If you insist on a fried turkey, we’d prefer you buy one already fried from a store or restaurant rather than risking deep-frying at home.”

Detroit Fire Marshal Don Thomas explains to media why fire prevention and education is critical to keep our residents safe, especially around the holidays. 

Top Holiday Cooking Safety Tips

Below are key safety practices to keep your kitchen fire-safe this season:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking. – If you’re frying, boiling, grilling or broiling, remain at the stove. If you must leave the room, turn off the burner first. – For baking, roasting or simmering, check on your food often, set a timer and remain in the home.
• Clear the area around your cooking surfaces. – Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper packaging, towels and curtains away from the stovetop or any heating unit. – Make sure pot handles are turned inward so they cannot easily be knocked over by children or pets.
• Maintain a kid- and pet-free zone. – Establish at least a 3-foot zone around the stove and hot food-carrying areas.
• Be especially cautious with oil-based turkey fryers. – Use only outdoors, on a flat surface, well away from structures (garage, deck, porches) and fully thaw and dry the turkey before submersion. – Never overfill the fryer with oil; avoid using when weather conditions (snow, rain) could cause splatters or steam. – The NFPA classifies oil-based turkey fryers as not safe for typical household use. As Captain Davis notes: if you’re set on a fried turkey, purchasing a pre-fried one is the safer route.
• Test and use smoke alarms and know your escape plan. – Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level and in every sleeping area; test them before hosting. – Develop and practice an escape plan with your family ahead of time.
• If a fire starts – act quickly and safely. – For a stovetop grease fire: carefully slide a lid over the pan, turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until cooled. – For an oven fire: turn off the oven and keep the door closed. – If you cannot fight the fire safely: evacuate immediately, close the door behind you and call 9-1-1.

Lt. Brent Doxtader, of DFD's Training Division, affixes a frozen turkey to a rope in preparation for the demonstration. 

The Detroit Fire Department wants your holiday to be filled with warmth, family, good food and gratitude — not the devastation of a fire. With a few smart precautions, you can help protect your home and loved ones. Let’s make Thanksgiving safe and memorable for the right reasons.

For more fire safety resources, videos and an escape-plan checklist, visit our website at detroitmi.gov/Fire and search “Holiday Fire Safety.”