Charleston, WV – Fire officials across West Virginia are warning residents to take extra care this Thanksgiving when preparing deep-fried turkeys, saying the popular method remains one of the most hazardous holiday cooking traditions.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports Thanksgiving Day is the top day for home cooking fires in the U.S., with more than 2,300 incidents annually. Newsweek data shows deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and roughly $15 million in property losses each year.
The hazard occurs when frozen or damp turkeys are placed into oil heated to 350 degrees. The trapped moisture vaporizes instantly, expanding 1,700 times in volume, forcing boiling oil over the fryer’s rim and onto flames or nearby materials — often igniting fires in seconds.
The National Fire Protection Association urges consumers to use air fryers, infrared models, or store-bought fried turkeys instead of traditional outdoor fryers. For those who still plan to fry, officials recommend cooking outdoors on level concrete, keeping children and pets away, and ensuring the bird is fully thawed and dry before frying.
