Homewood, IL – With Thanksgiving cooking underway across Cook County and the Chicago Southland, the Village of Homewood is reminding residents to take extra precautions when deep-frying holiday turkeys this week. Local officials say the seasonal tradition is one of the leading causes of severe home fires during the holiday period.
According to the Village of Homewood and the Homewood Fire Department, many of the most dangerous incidents stem from the same preventable mistakes—most commonly attempting to deep fry a frozen turkey or overfilling a fryer with oil. Firefighters noted that dropping a partially frozen turkey into hot oil can cause an explosive reaction, sending flames shooting several feet into the air.
Officials emphasize that fryers should only be used outdoors on flat, stable ground and kept at least 15 feet away from homes, garages, decks, or anything that could ignite. Children and pets should remain far from the cooking station, as oil splatter and tipping accidents are frequent causes of injury.
Homewood Fire Department staff also reminded cooks that fryer oil remains dangerously hot for hours after the flame is turned off. Residents are urged to keep a dry chemical fire extinguisher nearby and to never attempt to extinguish an oil fire with water.
The village originally considered filming a demonstration of a frozen turkey fire to show residents exactly what can go wrong. However, officials joked that their insurance provider would “not be too happy,” prompting them instead to release an educational infographic outlining the key safety steps.
Residents celebrating the holiday are encouraged to stay alert, prepare properly, and follow all fire-safety guidelines to ensure a safe Thanksgiving.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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