Butterball of fire: Play it safe when deep frying a turkey

The hot trend of deep frying turkeys has spread like wildfire in the last few years — literally.

Deep fryer fires on average kill five people, injure 60 and cause more than $15 million in property damage every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. State Farm warns that more cooking fires flare up on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. According to its claims data from 2005 to 2009, grease and cooking-related claims more than double on Thanksgiving compared to an average day in November.

Splattered hot oil causes burns that are more severe than fire because oil sticks to the skin. A large splatter from a deep fryer could seriously injure an adult and easily kill a child. Don’t let a tragedy ruin your holiday season. Follow these tips from State Farm and the Illinois Fire Service Institute if you plan to deep fry a turkey:

• Put in only the amount of oil recommended in the owner’s manual. Oil from over-filled cooking pots can spill onto the burner and cause a fire when the turkey is lowered into the pot.

• Thoroughly thaw the turkey before you cook it. Dropping a frozen or partially frozen turkey into the pot can cause a huge spray of oil, which can catch fire when it hits the burner and injure you and anyone else standing nearby.

• Cook the turkey outside and far away from the house, garage or anything flammable. Keep the fryer off wooden structures, like decks.

• Keep an extinguisher that is approved for cooking or grease fires handy. Don’t use water or ice to cool oil or extinguish an oil fire. They will cause the oil to spray and the fire will spread.

• Don’t leave the pot unattended. Many units don’t have thermostat controls, so the oil can continue to heat until combusting.

Most turkey frying fires are preventable. Play it safe to make your holiday a happy one.

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