MSD Project Clear (MSDPC) and the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District (FVFPD) are urging St. Louis residents to take steps to protect their homes this holiday season by preventing cooking-related fires and avoiding plumbing hazards caused by improperly disposed fats, oils, and grease (FOG). On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, FVFPD will demonstrate how to safely extinguish a turkey fire and share essential cooking safety tips, while MSDPC will show residents how to identify and properly dispose of FOG. Thanksgiving is the peak day for both cooking fires and plumbing issues, including basement backups and sewer overflows caused by FOG poured down household drains.
“We often see an increase in problems around the holidays when people are preparing large meals and may be unsure how to handle excess grease,” said Nicholle Spencer of MSD Project Clear Public Affairs. “FOG from butter, gravy, cooking oil, and sauces may appear harmless, but once it cools, it becomes thick and sticky. It clings to the inside of your home’s pipes and the region’s wastewater system. Over time, this buildup can clog pipes, causing wastewater to back up into homes or even overflow into yards and streets.”
“In recent years, we’ve seen a slight decrease in FOG-related overflows in residential areas, showing some residents understand the danger of improper FOG disposal, but many still do not,” Spencer added. “Stay alert and don’t FOG up your pipes this holiday season.”
Cooking fires are the other major hazard associated with Thanksgiving. It is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents.
“During the holidays, the kitchen becomes the heart of the home,” said Kate Freshman of the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District. “Cooking big meals can get hectic, so we’re sharing simple tips to help prevent fires.”
On Thanksgiving Day in 2023, fire departments across the United States responded to an estimated 1,466 home cooking fires—a 388% increase over the typical daily average.
“It is important to keep children away from the stove, never leave cooking unattended, and maintain proper cooking oil temperatures,” Freshman said. “Following these basic safety practices can help keep you and your family safe.”
What You Can Do
- Stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking food on the stovetop.
- Remain home while cooking your turkey and check it frequently.
- Keep children away from hot foods and liquids to prevent burns from steam or splashes.
- Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
- Test your smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly.
If You Have a Cooking Fire
- Get out immediately and close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call 9-1-1 once you are safely outside.
- Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Slide the lid over the pan, turn off the stovetop, and leave the pan covered until it cools completely.
- For oven fires, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
With more people using turkey fryers during the holidays, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has produced a safety video demonstrating the risks associated with these devices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjUynq0HXdQ.
While FVFPD focuses on fire safety, MSD Project Clear is reminding residents about the dangers of pouring FOG down household drains. FOG is created during cooking and is commonly found in:
- Meats
- Cooking oil
- Lard or shortening
- Butter or margarine
- Mayonnaise
- Food scraps
- “Hidden oils” such as salad dressings, syrup, batter, cheese, and whipping cream
Fall and early winter see more FOG-related issues than any other tie of year, especially during the holiday cooking season. MSDPC encourages everyone to use proper disposal methods to keep pipes free of blockages.
What You Can Do
- Scrape and wipe visible FOG and food scraps from dishes into the trash.
- Never pour FOG down your sink, garbage disposal, or into the sewer system.
- COOL IT, CAN IT, & TRASH IT.
- Pour cooled FOG into a container such as an empty pet food, vegetable, or coffee can. Allow it to solidify before disposal.
- Secure the lid and place the container in the trash when full. Lids are available at local municipalities and at MSD’s Administrative Offices.
- Encourage your neighbors to keep FOG out of the sewer system to help prevent community-wide issues.