Milwaukee, WI – As Thanksgiving approaches, Wisconsin fire officials are warning residents to be careful when deep-frying turkeys, a cooking method that remains one of the leading causes of home fires during the holiday season.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Thanksgiving Day leads the country in cooking-related fires, with more than 2,300 incidents each year. Newsweek data shows that deep-fryer accidents cause five deaths, 60 injuries, and $15 million in property losses annually.
The danger occurs when frozen or wet turkeys are submerged into oil heated to 350 degrees. The water trapped inside vaporizes instantly, expanding 1,700 times in volume, sending boiling oil out of the fryer and often igniting on open flames or nearby combustible surfaces.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends avoiding oil-based fryers and using air fryers, infrared models, or store-bought fried turkeys instead. For those who still choose to fry, safety officials advise setting up outdoors on flat concrete, keeping children and pets away, and ensuring the turkey is completely thawed and dry before cooking.
