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Make the Kitchen a Safe Zone For Kids This November

Idaho Falls Fire Department   Posted on November 04, 2026

IDAHO FALLS – As families head into the busiest cooking season of the year, the Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) is asking residents to make one simple change: establish a "kid-free zone" in the kitchen. Cooking remains a leading cause of home fires, and a few feet of space between children and hot surfaces can prevent burns, scalds, and fires.

The National Picture

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that cooking is by far the leading cause of home fires in the United States and the leading cause of home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the top cause of cooking fires and related deaths. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. NFPA estimates that fire departments responded to about 1,446 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day in 2023, nearly four times the number on an average day. NFPA recommends a kid- and pet-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and anywhere hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.

The Idaho Picture

Idaho's fire service reports incident data to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, and the Idaho State Fire Marshal's Office, part of the Idaho Department of Insurance, uses that data to guide statewide prevention efforts. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Idaho's 2022 residential structure fire death rate was 8.6 deaths per 1,000 fires, compared with a national average of 6.1. That makes working smoke alarms and simple prevention habits, like keeping kids away from the cooking area, especially important for Idaho households.

Right Here in Idaho Falls

IFFD crews respond to cooking fires in our community throughout the year, including a kitchen fire on Reynard Lane in February 2026, where firefighters limited the damage. Each fall, IFFD teaches fire safety to every District 91 second-grade class and hosts its annual Fire Prevention Block Party at Station 1. November brings a new focus on the kitchen as Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings approach.

"Thanksgiving should be about who's gathered around the table, not who's standing too close to the stove. Three feet can make a big difference. It's a simple boundary that helps protect the people you love most," said Fire Marshal Scott Grimmett.

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Kitchen Safety Tips From IFFD

• Create a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and anywhere hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must step away, even briefly, turn off the burner.
• Use back burners when you can and turn pot handles inward so little hands cannot grab them.
• Keep towels, oven mitts, packaging, and paper towels away from the stovetop.
• Give kids a job away from the heat: setting the table, washing veggies at the sink, or a game in another room.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and keep one on every level of the home.

Thanksgiving: The Busiest Day for Kitchen Fires

NFPA data shows Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with nearly four times the typical daily number, and the day before Thanksgiving ranks second. With multiple dishes, lots of guests, and plenty of distractions, it is easy to lose track of the stove. The kid-free zone matters even more on a crowded holiday.

• Set timers for every dish and check on food often, especially anything that takes hours.
• Assign one adult to watch the stove while others handle guests and kids.
• Keep the floor clear of kids, pets, and toys so no one trips while carrying hot dishes.
• Cook the turkey to a safe internal temperature of 165°F, measured in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh, and the wing.
• Thaw safely: in the refrigerator (about 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds), in cold water (30 minutes per pound, changing the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave if you will cook it right away.

Frying a Turkey? Read This First

• NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers at home. They use a large amount of hot oil and can cause devastating burns and property loss. The safest option is to buy a deep-fried turkey from a grocery store, specialty food retailer, or restaurant.
• If you do fry, do it outdoors only: on a flat surface, well away from the house, garage, deck, and anything that can burn. Never fry on a wooden deck or in a garage.
• Thaw the turkey completely before frying. Never put a frozen or partially frozen turkey into hot oil. A frozen or partly frozen bird can make hot oil boil over and cause a large fire.
• Do not overfill the pot. Hot oil that spills onto the burner can ignite. Keep water and marinades away from hot oil.
• Never leave the fryer unattended, and keep kids and pets well away, during cooking and afterward. The oil can stay dangerously hot for hours.
• Use insulated mitts on the pot and lid handles and keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher close. Never use water on a grease fire and never move a burning pot. If the fire cannot be safely controlled, evacuate and call 911.

National

• NFPA cooking safety: www.nfpa.org/cooking
• NFPA free codes and standards: www.nfpa.org/freeaccess
• NFPA Fire Prevention Week: www.fpw.org
• Sparky the Fire Dog (kids): www.sparky.org
• U.S. Fire Administration (USFA): www.usfa.fema.gov
• USDA food safety (turkey): www.fsis.usda.gov

Idaho

• Idaho State Fire Marshal: doi.idaho.gov/state-fire-marshal
• Idaho Department of Insurance: doi.idaho.gov
• USFA Idaho fire statistics: usfa.fema.gov/statistics/states/idaho.html

Idaho Falls

• Idaho Falls Fire Department: www.idahofallsidaho.gov
• IFFD public education and documents: idahofallsidaho.gov/1221/Documents
• IFFD Fire Marshal and Fire Prevention: idahofallsidaho.gov/1314/Fire-Marshal

For more information on fire safety, contact Idaho Falls Fire Department Fire Prevention at (208) 612-8497 or visit 343 E Street, Idaho Falls.

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Media Contact: City of Idaho Falls Public Information Officer Hayli Egbert at (208) 612-8562 or [email protected]

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