Columbia Fire Department demonstrates dangers of deep-frying turkey

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nationwide, each year there are more than three times the daily average of home cooking fires around Thanksgiving, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Ahead of the holiday, the Columbia Fire Department gave a demonstration of the fire that can emerge when a turkey is improperly deep-fried.

CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez said the department hopes the demonstration will remind deep friers to take safety measures.

"We really just want to showcase the dangers of not following proper safety protocols," said Rodriguez. "And we really want to try to communicate to our community, you know, if you're going to fry a turkey, let's make sure we do it the right way."

If you are planning to fry your bird this year, CFD says be sure to follow these fire-safe steps:

• Only deep fry a turkey outside on a sturdy, level surface.
• Make sure it is at least 10 feet from your home and not under any roof eaves.
• Do not overfill your cooking pot with cooking oil.
• Make sure the turkey is fully thawed without frost before frying. A partially frozen turkey will cause oil to splatter and create a fire.
• If your fryer does not have a thermostat, use a kitchen thermometer to help monitor the temperature of the oil.
• Always use protective oven mitts when handling hot appliances to prevent burns.

"You want to make sure you're in a properly well-ventilated area," said Rodriguez. "And make sure kids and pets are far away from something like this."

CFD also shared these reminders to ensure safe cooking:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking, and keep an eye on your food.
• If cooking a turkey, make sure to stay in the home and check on it often.
• Keep children and pets away from the stove and any hot surfaces, including hot foods that can steam or splash.
• Make sure not to have any flammable items near a hot stove, such as grocery bags, food wrappers, etc.