PODCAST: On the latest episode of the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker is joined by Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Chief Mark McClusky for a timely discussion on holiday safety and emergency response during Thanksgiving. Chief McClusky recaps how local crews handled Thanksgiving calls, including several motor vehicle accidents and, thankfully, only minor kitchen-related incidents from cooking mishaps. Unlike many areas across the nation, Murfreesboro avoided one of the most dangerous holiday hazards seen each year — house fires caused by deep-fried turkeys. The conversation also highlights important safety reminders for residents as the busy holiday season continues.

Thanksgiving Fire Statistics - Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve rank second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average.

Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in cooking-related fires and fire deaths.

Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two out of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it remains a leading cause of home fire deaths (16%).

On Thanksgiving Day alone, an estimated 1,446 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments in 2023, reflecting a 388 percent increase over the daily average.

Of all structure fires occurring on Thanksgiving Day across the U.S., 80% are due to cooking. Those cooking-related fires account for 40% of the civilian injuries sustained in structure fires that occur on Thanksgiving. These are annual estimates for the period 2019–2023. (No civilian deaths occurred in cooking fires on Thanksgiving during these years.)

Thanksgiving Statistics Sources: Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue and NFPA Research