TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home cooking fires. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis released the following seven safety tips to avoid a holiday disaster.

“While holidays are filled with laughter and family memories, any firefighter can tell you how quickly they can become a disaster,” said CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “Although you can’t completely eliminate your fire risk, there are simple steps to take to avoid a tragedy.” 

1. If you fry a turkey, do it away from the home. Put the turkey fryer the farthest you can from your home and keep it on a level surface. The smallest spark can ignite a fire.

2. Thaw the bird completely when frying. Ice or water mixed with hot oil is a major fire hazard.

3. Don’t overfill the fryer. Filling the fryer to the top with oil can cause oil to spill over and ignite.

4. Monitor the oil temperature. When cooking oil is heated beyond its smoke point it can catch fire.

5. Get a fire extinguisher. A Class K (kitchen type) or grease-rated extinguisher is the best option. Never leave the fryer unattended.

6. Pay attention to the stove. Turn in handles of pots on the stove to avoid scalding hot food from spilling.

7. Check the kitchen floors. Keep the kitchen free from toys and pets to avoid accidents.