ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Thanksgiving is right around the corner. The day of food, family and fun can also run the highest risk for cooking fires throughout the year.

“It’s the peak we’ll see throughout the year. Every season has its own different set of emergencies. And with everyone home cooking their good meals, obviously we’re going to see an increase in kitchen fires,” said Ridge Road Fire District Battalion Chief Brian Gebo.

The crew is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. On a typical day, Gebo says crews will respond to 17-25 calls a day. However, that number could nearly double come the holiday. They’re preparing for the busiest day of the year: Thanksgiving.

What You Need To Know

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving sees 240% more home cooking fires than the average day
New York is one of the highest ranked across the country for reported residential cooking fires
FEMA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System listed Rochester as third highest across the country with 6,715 reported residential cooking fires
Ridge Road Fire District reminds the community to cook safely by cleaning your oven beforehand and making sure it’s empty before cooking, clean your space of flammable objects, avoid loose clothing while cooking and don’t leave the oven unattended
If emergency strikes, call 911

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving sees 240% more home cooking fires than the average day — and New York is ranked highest across the country. Between 2020-2024, FEMA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System listed Rochester as third highest across the country with 6,715 reported residential cooking fires. That ranking is followed by the Albany-Schenectady-Troy and Buffalo-Cheektowaga metropolitan areas at sixth and seventh, respectively, highest nationwide. Further downstate, Kingston, New York, is ranked ninth.

“We would love not to go on any calls. That would mean we got our message out, and everyone provided their own safety at their homes,” Gebo said. “But, we are ready.”

So they’re providing some cooking safety tips to keep everyone’s holiday rolling smoothly.

“Our first recommendation is to be careful what you’re wearing. Loose clothing, loose articles that could catch on fire, for your own safety. Our other recommendations are always stay in the area while you’re cooking. Never leave anything unattended,” Gebo explained. “Taking the simple steps to prepare before you start cooking by making sure the pizza boxes and stuff like that are actually removed from your from your oven. And cleaning your stove way ahead of time.”

Cleaning the oven beforehand will help prevent any leftover crumbs or residues from taking flame while a turkey is in the oven at a high temperature for a long period of time. But he says it’s important to make sure your turkey isn’t rubbing against the sides of your oven either, because that can be a risk for smoke, or worse, as well. Your environment near hot surfaces is important too. Make sure to clear away any extra towels or flammable materials that are around your oven or stovetop.

“Being prepared for emergency ahead of time. Making sure you have a good-working extinguisher at hand, know where [it] is and how to use it,” Gebo added, “And then when you’re outside, if you’re deep frying a turkey, making sure that there’s no combustibles or flammable around that at least three feet, if not more away from, your home, your deck or something like that. Obviously don’t cook inside your garage. Any of those things that we tend to see in this holiday season.”

But accidents will still happen and crews will be prepared. If emergencies happen, always call 911.

“I guess the biggest is early activation. Again, there’s firefighters on duty, 365 [days], 24/7. So, calling 911, providing your own safety, getting out. And we’ll be there in a hurry and try to keep a small fire a small fire so it doesn’t get out of control,” he said, “It’s about safety. We don’t want to see anybody hurt. We don’t want to see anyone lose their valuables and everything they’ve worked hard for. Enjoy your time. Be thankful to be together with your family.”