Hartford, CT – Fire departments across Connecticut are warning residents to take extra care with turkey fryers this Thanksgiving, saying one wrong move can quickly turn dinner prep into a fire emergency.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that cooking causes the vast majority of Thanksgiving Day fires, with more than 2,300 incidents annually nationwide. Deep-frying turkeys remains a top hazard, linked to five deaths, 60 injuries, and roughly $15 million in property damage each year, according to Newsweek.
The danger comes from physics and timing. Frozen or wet turkeys plunged into oil heated to 350 degrees create an explosive steam reaction that can hurl boiling oil from the pot and ignite nearby surfaces. Safety officials recommend frying outdoors on flat concrete surfaces, away from walls and flammable materials. The National Fire Protection Association also advises consumers to consider oil-free or electric fryers instead of traditional gas-powered models.
