Fires, Burns, and Kitchen Injuries During Thanksgiving: Who’s Liable When Holiday Cooking Goes Wrong?

Family members gather for Thanksgiving, and food is at the center of nearly every celebration. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the peak days for cooking-related fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home cooking fires occur nearly three times more often on Thanksgiving than on an average day. These incidents often lead to costly property damage, severe burn injuries, and even fatalities.

But this doesn’t mean you need to skip the turkey or avoid hosting altogether. Understanding why Thanksgiving cooking leads to more accidents—and knowing your rights if something goes wrong—can help keep your holiday safe.

Why Thanksgiving Cooking Leads to More Fires and Burns

Thanksgiving kitchens are busy, high-stress environments. Multiple dishes on the stove, guests arriving, children running around, and phones buzzing with holiday messages all increase the chance of distraction—one of the top causes of cooking fires.

Other common hazards include:

Grease fires – Overfilled or overheated oil can spill or ignite, especially when frying turkeys improperly. Grease fires spread quickly and can worsen if water is used.

Contact burns – Boiling water, hot pans, and bubbling food make it easy for guests or children to get burned, especially when a kitchen is crowded.

Overcrowded kitchens – With everyone wanting to “see what’s cooking,” cramped spaces lead to bumping into people holding hot items or accidentally knocking over pots and pans.

Appliance malfunctions – Faulty ovens, pressure cookers, or outdated wiring can spark fires or explode, particularly if the equipment hasn’t been maintained properly.

While many Thanksgiving incidents are preventable, some result from negligence or unsafe conditions—raising the question of who might be legally responsible.

Who Could Be Liable for Thanksgiving Kitchen Injuries?

Thanksgiving accidents may be caused by true mistakes, but some happen because someone failed to act responsibly. Depending on the situation, liability may fall on:

Property Owners

If unsafe wiring, defective outlets, or malfunctioning appliances caused the fire, the homeowner or landlord may be responsible for failing to maintain a safe environment.

Manufacturers

If an appliance or kitchen tool explodes, catches fire, or fails during normal use, the manufacturer may be liable under Texas product liability law.

Negligent Hosts or Family Members

If someone mishandles flammable items, allows small children to be too close to hot appliances, or creates unsafe conditions, they may share responsibility for resulting injuries.

Determining negligence requires evidence, documentation, and a clear understanding of Texas liability laws — something an attorney can help navigate.

Safety Tips for Texans Cooking and Hosting on Thanksgiving

Simple precautions can go a long way in preventing holiday emergencies:

• Never leave the kitchen unattended.

• Keep children and pets at least three feet from cooking areas.

• Test smoke detectors before the holiday.

• Thaw turkeys completely before frying.

• Keep towels, oven mitts, and paper products away from flames.

• Turn pot handles inward to prevent spills.

• Keep a fire extinguisher within reach.

Proactive safety reduces the risk of devastating injuries and makes Thanksgiving more enjoyable for everyone.

Thanksgiving Injury? Call Shaw.

Thanksgiving should be filled with warmth — not painful burns or costly fire damage. If you or a loved one was injured while celebrating the holiday due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Ambulance Costs

• ER Treatment

• Surgeries

• Medical Bills

• Pain and Suffering

• Property Damage

• Missed Work

• Wrongful Death

• And More

We can help you find out for free.

Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 today or use the live chat to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. No fees. No obligations. Just expert legal advice when you need it most.

Carabin Shaw has been a trusted name in San Antonio and across Texas because we put our clients first.

We look forward to serving you.