These fires can be prevented by using oil-less fryers, and people can protect themselves by wearing proper clothing when cooking, such as long sleeves and gloves, Santillan said.
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“If the turkey was dropped in the fryer instead of carefully placed inside, the flames would have been much worse”, Santillan said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), from 2009 to 2013 cooking were involved in 156,400 home structure fires annually in the U.S. On an annual average these fires caused 430 deaths, 5,400 injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.
In addition, the burners that heat the oil can ignite spilled oil. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind yourself that you are cooking, as guests, phones, children, pets and other activity can easily distract a cook.
The Rapid Valley Fire Department does not recommend frying a turkey, but if a fried fowl is on your plate this year, they outlined simple steps to for you to stay safe.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, many are preparing their menus and to do lists for their turkey day festivities.
“Make sure that there are no combustibles near the area that you’re going to be cooking and make sure it’s a solid base so it doesn’t tip over”, Mckenna said. Turn pot handles away so young children can not reach a cooking pot and get burned. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
→Remain in the kitchen while cooking, especially while frying, grilling or broiling food. Timers should be used to remind the cook that there is food still cooking.
-Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home or asleep.
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-Make sure you have working smoke alarms on all levels of your home. Make sure the fryer is set up on level ground. Cooking a semifrozen turkey can be very risky and cause oil to splatter, potentially causing burns, he said.
