Indianapolis, IN – Indiana fire officials are reminding residents to take extra care this Thanksgiving when cooking their turkeys, warning that deep-frying remains one of the leading causes of holiday house fires and injuries across the country.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that Thanksgiving Day leads the nation in home cooking fires, with more than 2,300 incidents annually. Newsweek data shows that deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and $15 million in property losses every year.
The risk comes when frozen or wet turkeys are lowered into oil heated to 350 degrees. The moisture trapped inside vaporizes instantly, expanding 1,700 times its volume, and propelling boiling oil from the fryer onto flames or nearby surfaces, igniting fires within seconds.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends using air fryers, infrared models, or pre-fried turkeys as safer options. For those who still plan to deep-fry, safety officials urge residents to cook outdoors on flat concrete, ensure the bird is fully thawed and dry, and keep a fire extinguisher close by for emergencies.
