Deep fryer turkey “incidents” involving shooting flames, fireballs and sparking hot oil might make curiously interesting Facebook videos. In reality, they’re frightening and dangerous.
That’s the word from Anderson Township Fire and Rescue’s Battalion Chief Rick Martin. He says that each holiday season, some Anderson residents end up with a fire department visit and injuries due to a deep-fried turkey-related mishap.
If you’re planning an event involving a deep-fried turkey, take heed of a few tips:
o Keep the deep fryer off your deck, out of your garage and a safe distance from trees and structures.
o Do not try to fry a frozen turkey. Your turkey must be thawed and dry before cooking or flare-ups can be caused from ice or water mixing in the hot oil.
o Do not operate a turkey fryer outdoors in the snow or rain.
o Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfilling. If oil makes contact with the burner, it can ignite.
o Never leave a fryer unattended.
o Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
o Dress appropriately: mitts for hands and arms, goggles to shield your eyes. Keep grease-related extinguisher close by.
o Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil.
“All it takes is one undercooked turkey, or worse a turkey fire disaster, and you’ll be the ‘dinner rolls’ and “’soda’ person for life,” Martin said.
To watch a brief video or for more safety tips, go to: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/cooking.html