Turkey Fryers and Brush Fires Pose Safety Concerns This Thanksgiving

A kitchen fire is pictured in an undated image provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

In addition to being the busiest day of the year for firefighters when it comes to cooking-related fires, this year’s Thanksgiving will also be accompanied by elevated wildfire risk, prompting officials to urge extra caution when it comes to fire safety.

Pasadena resident and former City Council candidate Kevin Litwin needs no reminder of the danger posed by fire.

He was in his backyard in the area of Allen Avenue and Loma Vista Street on Tuesday afternoon when he smelled smoke emanating from his neighbor’s house.

After standing on lawn furniture to get a view, “I see the smoke billowing out from the roof,” he said.

Litwin yelled to a housekeeper that the home was on fire, he said. Litwin’s wife ran to call 911 while simultaneously fetching a fire extinguisher.

Litwin said he hopped the fence and made his way into the smoky home, fire extinguisher in-hand, and found the source of the smoke coming from a motorized vent fan. Another neighbor had already shut off the home’s electricity.

The fire was out before firefighters arrived, city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. No injuries were reported, and the damage remained confined to the bathroom.

The event got Litwin thinking about fire safety, he said. And he’s not the only one.

The International Firefighters Associated had reminded the public that Thanksgiving generally sees the largest number of cooking-related fires all year.

Of particular concern are deep fryers, which many use to fry their Thanksgiving turkeys. More than 40 percent of all fires involving turkey fryers are reported on the holiday, the IAFF said in a written statement.

To avoid any mishaps or injuries, the IAFF urges home chefs to only use them outside and away from structures, and never when it’s raining or snowing. A grease-rated fire extinguisher should be kept nearby, and smaller turkeys of no more than 10 pounds or so are ideal.

“Make sure the turkey is completely thawed out – ice and water that mixes into the hot oil can cause a flare up,” the statement said. Children and pets should be kept away from fryers.

But it’s not just kitchens that face added fire danger this Thanksgiving, the National Weather Service said.

A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 2 p.m. Thursday through6 p.m. Friday evening for most of Los Angeles County, according to the NWS.

“Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will develop [Wednesday] night and Thursday, peak Thursday night through Friday morning, then gradually weaken into Saturday but stay locally breezy through the weekend,” federal forecasters said in a written statement.

“Meanwhile, humidities will lower sharply Thursday afternoon and evening to 12% to 25%, lowering further to 6% to 15% for Friday through Sunday,” the statement said. “As a result, Red Flag conditions are likely to form over much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties by Thursday afternoon or evening when the wind and drier air start to coincide, then continue through Friday evening.”