In anticipation of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) are cautioning consumers about the threat of home cooking fires, and specifically the dangers associated with deep frying turkeys.
The threat of kitchen fires triples on Thanksgiving Day, according to CPSC. From 2009 to 2011, an average of about 1,300 cooking fires occurred on Thanksgiving, compared to about 400 on an average day. According to USFA, two-thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
CPSC provides guidance on safely handling and using turkey fryers. It notes that fryers should (1) only be used outside and away from your home, including away from garages or porches; (2) not be overfilled with oil; and (3) be attended at all times.
USFA’s website provides a video of a turkey fryer fire, which shows how quickly the fires can escalate.
