Denver, CO – Fire officials in Colorado are reminding residents to use extra caution when deep-frying turkeys this Thanksgiving, warning that the popular cooking method continues to cause fires, injuries, and costly property losses every holiday season.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with over 2,300 incidents each year. Newsweek data shows deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and approximately $15 million in property losses annually.
The danger occurs when frozen or wet turkeys are placed into oil heated to 350 degrees. The moisture rapidly turns to steam, expanding 1,700 times in volume, which sends boiling oil over the pot’s rim and into open flames or nearby surfaces, often igniting fires within seconds.
The National Fire Protection Association advises against using outdoor oil fryers, recommending air fryers, infrared cookers, or store-bought fried turkeys as safer options. For those who still plan to fry, officials emphasize cooking outdoors on flat concrete, ensuring the bird is completely thawed and dry, and keeping children and pets at a safe distance.
