Montgomery, AL – Firefighters across Alabama are warning families to take extra precautions when preparing Thanksgiving turkeys, as deep-frying accidents remain one of the leading causes of holiday house fires.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Thanksgiving sees more than 2,300 home cooking fires nationwide every year, with many traced back to fryer mishaps. Newsweek reports that deep-frying turkeys causes an average of five deaths, 60 injuries, and $15 million in property damage annually.
The risk comes when cooks lower a frozen or wet turkey into oil heated to 350 degrees. The trapped water rapidly turns to steam — expanding 1,700 times in volume — and propels boiling oil out of the pot. When that oil hits an open flame or hot surface, it can ignite instantly.
The National Fire Protection Association advises consumers to avoid outdoor oil fryers and instead use air fryers, infrared models, or pre-fried turkeys. For those determined to deep-fry, officials stress doing it outdoors on flat concrete, ensuring the turkey is fully thawed and dry, and keeping children and pets far away.
