Nov 23, 2015 3 min read

Dropping a turkey into a vat of scalding oil is precarious, but statistically speaking, holiday cooks are more likely to have a stove fire in the kitchen.

Pennsylvania had an average of 18 cooking fires per day in 2014, but the number nearly doubled to 30 on Thanksgiving Day last year, according to data from State Farm Insurance.

“Pennsylvania is No. 4 for holiday kitchen fires, and 43 percent of all house fires start in the kitchen,” said spokesman Dave Phillips.

Though turkey fryers pose their own share of risks, so long as they’re maintained properly, the risk is less than an unattended kitchen stove.

“The fryers are often outside – or they should be – and never in a garage or patio because of the weather,” Phillips said. “And the turkey can explode because it hasn’t been thawed out properly, or the oil can splash down to the flame and ignite, but overall, that’s a fire that’s going to be outside and has little chance of damaging your home.”

Stove fires are more common and dangerous, Phillips said, because a person’s attention in a busy kitchen can fluctuate while entertaining guests. “In the kitchen – unlike a fryer outside – there are multiple ignition sources, like potholders, other food items; the range can become engulfed.”

“With the fryers, we saw them hit their peak about five years ago in relation to their newness and safety features being standardized. People are familiar with them now, but it seems in the kitchen, people can still lose track of themselves and the dangers presented with lots of food in a small space,” he said.

Regardless of what type of cooking method a person uses on their poultry of choice, put safeguards in place, according to Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Tim Solobay.

“With the oil, electricity around, there should be a dry-chemical fire extinguisher on hand in any room where there will be cooking,” Solobay said, “Check for one that has an ‘A-B-C’ label on it. Otherwise, it’s common sense. Keep a lid handy to smother and choke out flames that erupt on any surface.

“We’ve seen fires (in Cecil and Canonsburg) made worse by the occupants taking food that’s on fire and trying to get it out of the house. That’s going to increase your chances of catching other things on fire.

“People can get a little careless when they’re having fun. Just be safe and smart,” Solobay said.