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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 1:08 AM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Don’t let feasting and merriment end in kitchen mishaps, state fire officials warn.

The Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office says cooking is the leading cause of more than 80 percent of residential fires on Thanksgiving Day and 30 percent on Christmas.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that fire departments responded to 1,300 cooking fires on Thanksgiving 2007, which is more than five times the daily average for cooking fires in the United States.

In the past three years, Middletown firefighters have responded to 33 kitchen fires, according to Brent Hughes, former fire marshal. He said there are likely many more that are not reported because they are contained and extinguished by the cook.

He said food should never be left unattended while cooking.

Middletown firefighters working on Thanksgiving Day plan to deep fry a turkey at the station, Hughes said. This method requires extra care, he said.

“Make sure the turkey is thawed before it is put in the hot oil. You don’t want the grease splashing up,” Hughes said. He added the fryer should be located outside and not on a deck or in a garage that can catch fire.