Reducing Fire Risk on Thanksgiving

A practical guide for high-rise residential condos and apartments

Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for U.S. home cooking fires. In 2023 alone, fire departments responded to an estimated 1,446 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day—about 388% above the daily average. NFPA+1

High-rise buildings add unique complexities—vertical evacuation, shared systems, trash chutes, balconies, and dense occupancy. The checklist below is tailored for boards/HOAs, property managers, and residents of multifamily towers.

1) Top risks on Thanksgiving (and why high-rises are different)

• Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of home cooking fires. Even brief distractions (guests, deliveries, phone calls) can be enough to ignite oil or food. U.S. Fire Administration
• Peak-risk timeline: Late morning through afternoon when ovens and multiple burners run simultaneously. NFPA
• Evacuation and smoke movement: Stairwells, elevator shafts, and corridor pressurization amplify the consequences of a single unit’s fire in a tall building. NFPA provides specific high-rise safety guidance for residents and managers. NFPA

2) Resident cooking safety—simple, high-impact habits

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, broiling, or searing; stay in the home when the turkey is roasting, and set timers to check frequently. Missouri Division of Fire Safety
• Keep a kid- and pet-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove. blog.haigroup.com
• Manage oil and heat: Heat oil slowly; if oil smokes, turn the burner off and let it cool. Keep lids nearby to smother pan fires; slide the lid on, kill the heat—never use water on grease fires. Missouri Division of Fire Safety+1
• Oven fire? Turn the oven off and keep the door closed. Call 911 if the fire persists or spreads. Missouri Division of Fire Safety
• Candles & décor: Prefer flameless candles; keep real candles at least 12 inches from combustibles; inspect light strings and don’t daisy-chain beyond manufacturer limits. U.S. Fire Administration
• Turkey fryers: NFPA strongly discourages oil-based turkey fryers; if used, they must be outdoors and far from buildings—never on balconies or indoors. Homeland Security Services

3) Balconies, grills, and building rules

• Many high-rises and local codes prohibit grills and open flames on balconies, roofs, or within certain distances of the building exterior. NFPA 1 includes use/location limitations for grills and similar devices. Check your building’s house rules and local fire code. NFPA

4) Pre-holiday prep for boards & property managers

Communication & signage

• Send a pre-Thanksgiving resident bulletin covering cooking vigilance, balcony restrictions, how to report alarms, and what to do if smoke triggers a detector. Link or attach NFPA’s Thanksgiving and high-rise tip sheets. NFPA+1

Life-safety systems

• Confirm sprinkler and standpipe valves are open and tagged; verify fire pump weekly run logs; test corridor/stair pressurization on schedule; ensure pull stations, annunciator panels, and elevator recall signage are clear and unobstructed. (Follow your AHJ’s requirements and testing cadence.)

Staffing & response

• Have a holiday duty roster with a single point of contact for alarms/water flow events: stage spare smoke-detector batteries and a few Class K extinguishers for kitchen areas (where permitted).

Trash & grease control

• Increase trash chute inspections and collection frequency; post “no hot ash/grease” reminders. Grease and smoldering materials can ignite in chutes/compactors.

Electrical load management

• Remind residents not to overload power strips with countertop appliances or holiday lighting; inspect common-area outlets and GFCIs. U.S. Fire Administration

5) Building-wide emergency actions (for residents)

• If your unit’s smoke alarm sounds and there’s no fire, ventilate toward windows—not into corridors—and do not turn off alarms.
• If there’s a fire in your unit:
  1. Get everyone out, close the door, and pull the corridor fire alarm. 2) Use stairs; never elevators during fire emergencies. 3) If hallway smoke is heavy, shelter in place behind a closed, wet-towel-sealed door and call 911 with your unit number for firefighter assistance. (These points mirror NFPA’s high-rise resident guidance.) NFPA

6) Quick resident checklist (print or post)

☐ Stay in the kitchen while cooking; set multiple timers. U.S. Fire Administration

☐ Keep lids nearby to smother pan fires; never use water on grease. Department of Homeland Security

☐ Keep kids/pets 3 ft from the stove; turn pot handles inward. blog.haigroup.com

☐ Avoid balcony/roof grilling; follow building rules and local code. NFPA

☐ Prefer flameless candles; inspect light strings and don’t overload. U.S. Fire Administration

☐ Know your two exit stairs, alarm pull location, and meeting point. NFPA

7) Post-incident: limiting damage and downtime

• Close doors to contain smoke and heat—this protects neighbors and common areas.
• Notify management immediately; early water mitigation prevents secondary losses (mold, corridor damage).
• Document the incident with photos and provide details for the incident log and the insurer.

Bottom line

With a bit of planning and vigilance, high-rise communities can enjoy the holiday while dramatically reducing risk. Remind residents that most Thanksgiving fires start in the kitchen—and that staying present at the stove is the single most significant safeguard. U.S. Fire Administration

Helpful resources to share with residents: NFPA Thanksgiving safety tips and high-rise apartment/condo tip sheets; USFA cooking-fire guidance. NFPA+2NFPA+2

by Sarmad Naqvi, CLCS