Chicago, IL – Illinois fire officials are warning residents to use caution this Thanksgiving as deep-fried turkey fires continue to cause injuries, property losses, and dangerous explosions across the country.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with over 2,300 incidents reported each year. Newsweek data shows deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and $15 million in property losses annually.
Officials say frozen or wet turkeys dropped into oil heated to 350 degrees can trigger violent reactions. The moisture vaporizes instantly, expanding 1,700 times in volume, sending boiling oil over the fryer’s rim and onto flames or nearby materials — often igniting fires within seconds.
The National Fire Protection Association urges residents to avoid outdoor oil fryers entirely and use air fryers, infrared cookers, or store-bought fried turkeys instead. For those who still plan to fry, officials recommend cooking outdoors on flat concrete, keeping children and pets away, and ensuring the bird is fully thawed and dried before frying.
