The National Fire Protection Association reports an average of five deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage each year from grease and cooking fires, and Thanksgiving is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires.
More than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio.
If you are using a turkey fryer, here are some guidelines to keep you and your family safe this holiday season:
- Cook outdoors at a safe distance from any buildings or trees.
- Keep the fryer off any wooden structures, such as a deck or patio.
- Avoid a hot oil spill by first filling the pot with cold oil and then lowering the thawed turkey into the pot to determine how much oil you’re going to need.
- Shut off the fuel source or flame when adding the turkey to the hot oil to prevent a dangerous flare-up if oil does spill over the rim.
- Make sure your turkey is properly thawed and patted dry before lowering it slowly into the pot.
- Never leave a hot turkey fryer unattended.
- Keep the fryer away from children.
- Do not use ice or water to cool down oil or extinguish an oil fire.
- Keep an approved fire extinguisher nearby.