Thanksgiving Home & Auto Safety Tips: Protect Your Family This Holiday

Thanksgiving is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year — family gathered around the table, the smell of a roasting turkey, and the warmth of a home full of people you love. But it is also one of the busiest and riskiest days of the year for home fires, kitchen accidents, and road travel.

At Robert Pico Insurance Agency, we want your holiday to be full of gratitude — not insurance claims. Here are the most important home and auto safety tips to keep your family protected this Thanksgiving.

Kitchen Fire Safety: The #1 Thanksgiving Hazard

Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires in the United States. The combination of a busy kitchen, distracted cooks, and a hot oven running for hours creates real risk.

Before you cook:

Never leave the stove or oven unattended while cooking

Keep a fire extinguisher within reach in the kitchen

Clear flammable items — dish towels, paper bags, oven mitts — away from the stovetop

Make sure your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries

If you are deep-frying a turkey:

Always fry outdoors, on a flat surface, away from the house and garage

Never overfill the fryer with oil — lower the turkey slowly to check displacement first

Keep children and pets well away from the fryer at all times

Have a fire extinguisher rated for grease fires nearby (Class K or ABC)

Deep-fryer fires are fast and extremely dangerous. This is one risk that is entirely preventable with the right precautions.

Home Safety for Holiday Guests

When you open your home to guests, your liability exposure increases. A slip on an icy walkway, a fall on the stairs, or a dog bite can turn a celebration into a legal situation.

Clear ice and snow from driveways, walkways, and steps before guests arrive

Secure loose rugs and cords that could cause a trip

Keep pets in a separate room if they are not comfortable around crowds

Make sure outdoor lighting is working so guests can safely navigate at night

Your homeowners insurance includes personal liability coverage, but it is worth reviewing your policy limits before the holidays. If you have questions about what your current coverage includes, our team is happy to walk you through it.

Candle and Decoration Safety

Candles and decorative lights add warmth to a Thanksgiving table, but they are a leading cause of home fires during the holiday season.

Never leave candles burning unattended or near flammable centerpieces

Keep candles away from curtains, tablecloths, and dried flower arrangements

Use flameless LED candles as a safer alternative, especially with children around

Check holiday light strings for frayed wires or broken bulbs before use

Thanksgiving Travel: Protecting Yourself on the Road

Thanksgiving week is one of the heaviest travel periods of the year. More cars on the road means more accidents — and Utah highways can add winter weather into the mix.

Before you drive:

Check your tire tread and pressure — cold weather drops tire pressure

Top off your windshield washer fluid with a winter-rated formula

Make sure your headlights, brake lights, and turn signals are all working

Keep an emergency kit in your trunk: blanket, jumper cables, flashlight, and a small shovel

On the road:

Increase your following distance — stopping distances are longer on cold or wet pavement

Avoid driving fatigued; drowsy driving is as dangerous as impaired driving

Never text or use your phone while driving

If you are traveling through mountain passes, check road conditions before you go

If you are not sure whether your auto policy covers you adequately for holiday road trips — including rental cars or driving in other states — review your coverage options with us.

What Your Insurance Actually Covers on Thanksgiving

It is worth knowing what your policies cover before something goes wrong.

Homeowners insurance typically covers:

Fire damage from a kitchen fire or deep fryer accident

Liability if a guest is injured on your property

Theft if someone breaks in while you are away for the holiday

Auto insurance typically covers:

Collision and comprehensive damage during holiday travel

Liability if you cause an accident

Uninsured motorist protection if the other driver has no coverage

What it may not cover without the right add-ons: flood damage, earthquake, or a vehicle used for rideshare driving. If you are unsure about your gaps, now is a great time to review.

Give Yourself the Gift of Peace of Mind

The best Thanksgiving gift you can give your family is knowing you are protected. A quick policy review before the holidays can reveal gaps you did not know existed — and close them before they matter.

Robert Pico Insurance Agency serves families and businesses across Murray, Utah and the surrounding area. We are here to make sure your coverage fits your life, not just a generic template.

Explore our coverage options

Schedule a free consultation or property tour

Contact us with any questions

From our family to yours — have a safe, warm, and wonderful Thanksgiving.