Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, in his role as the state’s Fire Marshal, is not only warning Floridians of the dangers of unsafe turkey frying, he took part in a fiery demonstration this week.
“Don’t ruin your Thanksgiving holiday with a burnt turkey. Taking just a few steps to protect your home and your family can make the difference between a perfectly cooked turkey and a fire truck at your door. What’s the difference between a well-fried turkey and a badly fried one? One’s dinner and the other is a story your mother-in-law will tell every Thanksgiving for the next 20 years,” Ingoglia warned after fire fighters in full protective gear showed how quickly a fire can start, and how big the flames can get, as a result of improper turkey frying.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, and cooking is the culprit behind more than half (52%) of all home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. But there are ways to ensure your home doesn’t become the neighborhood spectacle by going alight whilst everyone else is saying grace.
If frying a turkey — a top culprit for Thanksgiving cooking fires — ensure the fryer is far away from the home on level ground, to avoid tipping and spilling scalding hot oil.
It’s a shame this has to be repeated literally every single year, but alas people keep dropping frozen birds in boiling oil and then losing their eyebrows as a result. For those in the back — the turkey must be completely thawed before putting in the fryer. When ice or water is introduced to hot oil, bad things (read: big fires) happen. That means even if your turkey is fully thawed, it’s also a good idea to give it a little pat down to get rid of any residual water.
Also avoid over-filling the fryer, as the hot oil can spill and catch fire.
Another piece of advice that seems like a no-brainer but that apparently needs repeating: Keep kids away from hot stoves, fryers or other hot surfaces. Also be mindful of moving hot food, as splashes and even steam can cause burns.
Finally, ensure the kitchen is equipped with a Class K or grease-rated fire extinguisher, to keep an accident from turning into tragedy.
