If your Thanksgiving plans include a deep-fried turkey, fire officials are reminding you to think safety first. Ever year, the unsafe use of turkey fryers causes thousands of dollars in property damage. Jeff Stauber with the State Fire Chiefs Association says the devices can get out of control quickly for many reasons. Most of them are related to oil from the fryer boiling over and making contact with the flame, causing a large and explosive fire.
Many national fire safety groups discourage the use of turkey fryers. Stauber says if you must use one, keep it far away from any buildings, watch it at all times, and keep a fire extinguisher handy. Also, make sure your turkey is fully thawed before putting it in the oil. Stauber says a frozen or partially-thawed turkey could create an almost explosive result that could spatter oil around the area. Stauber adds that just reading the instructions can also save you a lot of trouble.