Syracuse, N.Y. — Fire officials are warning Central New Yorkers about the dangers of cooking on Thanksgiving and are offering safety tips to avoid fires on the holiday.

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average, according to the Firefighters Association of New York State.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires on Thanksgiving, officials said. Deep-frying a frozen turkey can also be dangerous. Fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil can easily spill or release oil, causing severe burns, injuries and fires.

Other common causes of holiday fires include items left too close to stovetops and ovens. Firefighters remind people to keep clothing, oven mitts, packaging and other flammable materials away from heat sources.

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