TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home cooking fires. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis warned today of the fire hazards of frying a turkey and released the following eight safety tips to avoid a holiday disaster.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Don’t let the holidays turn into a major loss. With Thanksgiving next week, be sure to take steps to protect yourself and your family from accidents. Thanksgiving is meant to be spent enjoying time with loved ones and not in the emergency room. Follow these basic safety tips to avoid a tragedy.”

 

1. If you fry a turkey, do it away from the home. Put the turkey fryer as far as you can from your home and keep it on a level surface. The smallest spark can ignite a fire.
2. Thaw the bird completely before frying. Ice or water mixed with hot oil is a major fire hazard.
3. Don’t overfill the fryer. Filling the fryer to the top with cooking oil can cause oil to spill over and ignite.
4. Monitor the oil temperature. When cooking oil is heated beyond its smoke point it can catch fire.
5. Have a fire extinguisher ready. A Class K (kitchen type) or grease-rated extinguisher is the best option.
6. Never leave the fryer unattended.
7. Pay attention to the stove. Turn in handles of pots on the stove to avoid scalding hot food from spilling.
8. Check the kitchen floors. Keep the kitchen free from toys, pets, and young children to avoid accidents.