Fire Safety Tips

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

For safety’s sake, buy a fried turkey from a grocery store, specialty food store, or restaurant instead of frying it yourself. If you decide to fry a turkey, follow these tips to prevent fires and injuries:

• Place the turkey fryer on a level surface, in an open area away from homes, fences, sheds, and other structures.
• Never place the fryer on a wooden deck or porch or in a garage or carport.
• Leave at least 2 feet between the fryer and the propane tank.
• Keep the fryer in full view at all times.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
• Check the oil temperature often. If you see smoke coming from the oil, turn off the gas right away.
• Completely thaw and dry the turkey before frying. Adding a partially frozen or wet turkey to the pot makes the oil splatter a lot, causing a fire or explosion hazard.
• Cover bare skin before adding or removing food from the fryer.
• Raise and lower food slowly to avoid splattering or spilling oil.
• Use the right amount of oil. To find out how much oil to use, read the fryer’s instructions, or:
• Place the turkey in the pot.
• Fill with water until the turkey is covered by ½ inch of water.
• Remove the turkey and pat dry.
• Mark the water level in the pot.
• Dump the water, dry the pot, and fill oil to the level marked.
• If the fryer catches fire, call 911 right away. Do not try to put it out with water.

Turkey Fryer Fire Facts

• Cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving Day.
• Between 1998 and 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had 112 reports of fires or burns related to turkey fryers.
• Most fires from turkey fryers occur while the oil is being heated, before the turkey is added.
• Contact with hot oil can cause serious burns.