Crime & Safety

Turkey Fryer Fires

Deep- frying your Thanksgiving bird could be a serious fire hazard.

Whatever way you like to cook your turkey at Thanksgiving, the idea of frying it may not immediately bring to mind a dangerous hazard.

Yet, all home turkey fryers pose serious risks at causing grease fires that can quickly spread, and even be fatal if not tended to immediately.

In a press release put out by Prince William County, it states that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and that the National Fire Protection Association has recognized that although home turkey fryers have made manufacturing improvements, they are still not safe to use due to excessive quantities of oil combined with high temperatures.

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Although there are precautions you can take, Prince William County’s Deputy Fire Marshall Chief Joseph Robertson pointed out that the home turkey fryer you’re using most probably isn’t UL approved, a certification that all electrical household ware should have to declare them safe to use under proper operation.

“The Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) tests the safety of electrical equipment,” Chief Roberston said. “The experiments they have done on turkey fryers shows that even with a slight overfill of oil, the spillage results in a dangerous grease fire. The conclusion is that they will not approve a household turkey fryer as UL certified. As far as I know, there aren't any home turkey fryers that have UL approval. You're better off getting a fried turkey at a grocery store or restaurant, where they use large commercial fryers.”

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According to Chief Robertson, the danger lies in the structure of the fryer. 

“You have a propane burner that a big metal pot full of oil sits on. When the oil heats up to 375 degress, it’s basically a pot full of flammable liquid.”

Those who want to use a home turkey fryer this year are advised to follow some guidelines. Have the fryer outside and keep it at least 15 ft from any building, use it on a sturdy foundation, and don’t overfill the pot with too much oil.

“A lot of fires we see this time of year occur between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and the most common cause is unattended cooking,” Chief Roberston said. “In the case of a small grease fire in a pan, you can try to put it out by using a fire extinguisher or by quickly dropping a lid on it. But in most cases, you should evacuate and call for help. Fires grow quickly and people can get hurt.”

Robertson also recommends using some practical safety precautions at home, such as turning handles of pots inwards so they don’t get knocked over from the stovetop, not leaving anything cooking unattended, and turning stoves and ovens off if you do have to step away for an extended amount of time.

To see a turkey fryer fire demo, click here.


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