SALT LAKE CITY — Thanksgiving always means more food, family, football — and sometimes the house fire that happens when all those other things come together.

The National Fire Protection Association has reported that Thanksgiving saw more house fires than any other day of the year for another year. Frozen turkeys in deep fryers, leaving mail on the stove, baking in an unclean oven, and forgetting to keep the pots on the stove cooking have caused many house fires across the country.

Utah is no exception.

“During Thanksgiving, people are busy with everything that’s going on, so it’s important to pay attention to what’s going on in the kitchen,” said Salt Lake Fire Department Capt. Brandt Hancuff. “For some families, alcohol is part of the holiday, so it’s important to wait until after cooking to make the sauce.”

Although the National Fire Protection Association reports that most Thanksgiving fires start in the kitchen, this is not the case for all. Candles fall on dining tables and cause a flammable tablecloth to burst into flames, old space heaters start throwing sparks and setting something on fire, and running children and pets accidentally set something on fire.

There is also a visiting family member who tries to hide his renewed smoking habit by leaving lit cigarettes near flammable objects.

This could happen whenever the family gets together. So why is Thanksgiving more important than any other day on the calendar?

For Red Cross workers and local firefighters, the foundation lies in what gets people’s attention on Thanksgiving Day. People cook for hours, rush to get everything perfect for the family, and have plenty of opportunities to step away from the stove. The three football games also give someone a chance to check the score a little but occasionally get caught up in a touchdown celebration.

Additionally, many children come by needing attention, which results in keeping eyes away from potential dangers.

“The best thing to do with children is to talk to them before Thanksgiving and tell them, ‘It’s hot in this area, so you need to stay away from it,'” said Amanda Ward, regional preparedness manager for the Red Cross of Utah and Nevada. “And then remind them, remind them, remind them.”

Local firefighters and local Red Cross personnel also noted that while Thanksgiving is the busiest day for house fires, it is actually the start of one of their busiest seasons.

While Thanksgiving ranks first in the number of home fires, Christmas Day is second and Christmas Eve is third. Thanksgiving is the start of house fire season.

The Christmas tree – especially when it is alive and dry – poses an incredible danger, especially if it is decorated with old lights that can start a fire, or if it is next to a heating source such as a fireplace.

Despite their warnings, local fire officials believe everyone can have a safe holiday season with friends and family. The key is to prepare for the holidays by making a plan, removing flammable items from the candles, and figuring out who will watch the children and pets.

This gives you a better chance of enjoying time with everyone instead of leaving your home and calling 911.

“Foreseeable is preventable,” said Jon Ritchie, chief deputy in the Utah State Fire Marshal’s office. “Don’t overwhelm yourself, but you can make sure everything is okay.”