House fires increase in San Antonio during Thanksgiving week. Here’s how to keep safe.

Here’s what you need to know to stay safe this holiday season:

Cooking safety

Kitchen fires cause nearly half of all home fires and was the second leading cause of home fire deaths between 2014 and 2018, the association said.

“Typically for the holidays, people have big gatherings and are cooking lots of food, but aren’t paying attention to what is on the stove or in the oven,” said Joe Arrington, a spokesman for SAFD. “We get a lot of calls for structure fires, even though a lot of times it is a small fire and is usually put out by the time we get there, it creates a lot of calls for us.”

The NFPA also recommends keeping kids out of the kitchen and away from any hot items while cooking. Arrington says its important to not leave your cooking unattended.

Thanksgiving turkey

Turkey fryers can be prone to catching fire.

Arrington said cooks need to make sure their turkey is completely thawed before it goes into the fryer so it doesn’t pop when the water touches the grease. He also said to make sure the fryer is in an open area away from overhangs or awnings and to have a fire extinguisher nearby because you can’t put water on a grease fire.

You also need to make sure turkey fryers have the proper amount of grease in the container, Arrington said. He said he often sees people overfill the cooking device and when they place a turkey inside, the grease overflows and catches fire.

Alternative heat

As the temperatures drop, Arrington said the SAFD starts to see a lot of fires caused by alternative heat sources such as generators.

Some residents will use their stove to heat up the home but it poses a fire risk and releases carbon dioxide. Heating sources, such as generators, need to be kept outside so the gas from the exhaust also doesn’t create a deadly problem, Arrington said.

Space heaters are also a big problem for the department, especially in older homes without central heat.

In order to avoid starting a fire with a space heater, Arrington said to make sure the device is at least 3-feet away from anything flammable such as curtains or blankets, though 6-feet is ideal. Residents should also make sure the cord isn’t frayed and that the space heater is plugged directly into the wall.

When you leave a room, make sure the space heater is unplugged, Arrington said.

Be prepared

Officials recommend making sure your home has a working fire extinguisher and smoke alarms. Also, make sure any combustible items are kept away from heat.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway