Mass. Fire Marshal Offers Tips to Avoid Thanksgiving Blazes

Enjoy the Thanksgiving turkey but be careful while it’s in the oven.

That’s the message from Massachusetts fire marshal Stephen Coan, who says more fires break out in homes in Massachusetts on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year.

Coan says 87 percent of the fires that occur on the holiday are tied to cooking.

To avoid fires, he says, stay in the kitchen while cooking and use a timer when baking or roasting.

Cooks should wear short or tight-fitting sleeves to prevent clothes from catching fire.

When flames do erupt, the fire marshal says they can often be quickly put out by turning off the heat while keeping the oven doors closed.

If the fire persists, Coan says leave the house and call the fire department immediately.