Fire Officials Warn of Thanksgiving Cooking Hazards
Massachusetts fire officials urge caution with turkey fryers and unsafe cooking practices ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Cooking
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Massachusetts Department of Fire Services reports residential fires occur at about twice the rate on Thanksgiving Day as on any other day of the year. Officials are warning residents against oil-based turkey fryers ahead of Thanksgiving on November 26.
Why it matters
More than 80 percent of Thanksgiving residential fires begin with unsafe cooking practices, making kitchen safety a central concern for households across Massachusetts during the holiday. The warning highlights how a routine holiday meal can quickly become a destructive emergency.
Massachusetts recorded 721 Thanksgiving Day fires from 2018 to 2022, with about 70 percent starting from cooking activities at home. Fire officials have not yet released figures for the upcoming holiday.
The players
Massachusetts Department of Fire Services
The state agency that compiles fire statistics and issues fire safety guidance for Massachusetts residents.
The details
The November 26, 2020 fire on Washburn Street in New Bedford destroyed three multi-family homes and displaced 27 people after a deep fryer ignited a gas tank while a turkey was being prepared. Officials say deep-frying a turkey uses large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns.
Timeline
Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, is when residential fires occur at about twice the normal daily rate.
Between 2018 and 2022, Massachusetts recorded 721 Thanksgiving Day fires.
Season Trajectory
Thanksgiving fire statistics compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services show a recurring holiday pattern in which home cooking drives the majority of incidents. The 2020 Washburn Street fire in New Bedford illustrates how a single deep-fryer accident can escalate across multiple homes.
Residents planning a Thanksgiving turkey should avoid oil-based deep fryers, which can cause severe burns and ignite nearby fuel sources. Keeping cooking areas monitored and free of clutter reduces the chance of a fire spreading to neighboring units.
The takeaway
Most Thanksgiving fires start from unsafe cooking, so staying in the kitchen while food is cooking and avoiding oil-based turkey fryers are the most effective precautions for holiday hosts.
What happens next
Thanksgiving falls on November 26, 2026, the date residential fire risk is expected to peak in Massachusetts.
Further reading
Explore more Cooking guidance in Massachusetts for safe holiday meal preparation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 1420 WBSM.
Live Poll
Will Massachusetts Thanksgiving residential fire counts exceed the 2018-2022 average this November?
