More home fires happen on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year and, as COVID-19 has led many to stay home and cook themselves this year, officials are warning of the fire risks.

“In 2020, the name of the game for Thanksgiving is protecting other people,” said Skyler McKinley with AAA Colorado. “That means staying home and, if you’re cooking, taking good care to avoid common kitchen missteps.”

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Nationally, the risk of home fires triples on Thanksgiving and cooking is the leading cause of all residential building fires and injuries, according to AAA.

To avoid a fire, AAA recommends having someone on cooking duty at all times, limiting distractions while cooking, never cooking if tired or drunk and keeping flammable materials like dish towels and paper away from heat.

Cookers should also have a fire extinguisher handy and, if a fire starts, remember to turn off heat and smother grease fires with a metal lid or baking soda.

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For those frying their turkey this year, AAA offers three tips:

1. Do not fry indoors: The fryer should be on a stable, non-combustible surface at least 10 feet from a home. Using fryers in a home, garage or on a deck or patio is a fire risk. Fryers should also never be put directly on lawn or dirt or beneath trees.
2. Do not overfill the fryer: Only fill the fryer to the fill line. Overfilling may cause the fryer to overflow when the turkey is added, causing a burn and fire risk.
3. Properly thaw the turkey: Deep frying a frozen turkey will cause an explosion and fire. A turkey must be completely thawed before frying which can take several days depending on the turkey’s size.