Written By: Prince William Fire and Rescue

The holiday season will soon be here; a time when family and friends come together to
celebrate all it has to offer, especially a home cooked meal. During the holiday season, home
fires and home fire injuries increase due to an increase in cooking. Thanksgiving is the peak
day for these types of fires followed by Christmas and Christmas Eve, resulting in injuries,
deaths, and millions of dollars in property damage.
One contributor of holiday cooking fires is turkey frying, an extremely popular method of
cooking, yet a dangerous method due to the burn hazard for consumers. Since its inception,
the food appliance industry continues to make great strides in the improvement of turkey
fryers. However, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns consumers about the
dangers involved when frying a turkey due to the amount of oil and high temperatures used
during the cooking process. Even well informed and careful consumers are at risk when using
a turkey fryer. NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers unless used by
properly trained professionals of grocery stores, specialty food retailers and restaurants who
use professional quality equipment. However, if you prefer fried turkey, the Prince William
County Fire & Rescue System advises the use of an “oil-less” turkey fryer.
Hazards and Precautions for Turkey Frying

• Hot oil can spill or splash over onto the flame igniting a fire. This can occur during the
  cooking process especially when placing the turkey in the fryer or when removing it.
• Fryers designed for outdoor use with or without a stand are prone to collapse causing
  a major hot oil spill.
• Cooking oil is combustible. If heated beyond its cooking temperature (375°), its vapors
  can ignite.
• Steam can result from hot cooking oil exposed to snow or rain causing a splattering of
  the hot oil leading to burns.
• The use of turkey fryers in close quarters poses a burn hazard/danger to children and
  others in the home due to oil, inside a pot, can stay dangerously hot for hours after
  use.
• DO NOT use in, on or, under a garage, deck, breezeway, porch, barn, or any structure
  that can catch fire.
• When cooked, frozen or partially frozen turkeys will cause the hot oil to splatter or
• produce hot steam leading to burns.
• Should a grease fire occur:
  o NEVER use water to extinguish it!
  o Get out and stay out! Once you’re safely out of the house, call 911.

Click here to view the hazards of turkey frying.
Additional Safety Tips
The Prince William County Fire and Rescue System would like to remind residents that the
leading cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking and urges the community to “Look When
You Cook”! Cooking fires are preventable by simply being more attentive when using cooking
materials and equipment.
To keep you and your family safe, during the holidays and every day, follow these simple
safety tips:
“Look When You Cook”

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
• Turn off the stovetop if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home
  while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove, i.e., oven mitts, wooden
  utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains.
• Should a cooking fire or grease fire occur:
  o NEVER use water to extinguish a cooking fire!
   If possible, cover the pot/pan with a lid and smother the fire.
   Turn off the stovetop.
   Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
  o DO NOT attempt to fight the fire! Just Get Out!
   When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
   Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number AFTER you leave.
• For an oven fire:
  o Turn off the heat.
  o Keep the oven door closed.
  o If it’s a larger fire, Get Out, Close the door behind you and Call 9-1-1!
• For a microwave fire:
  o Turn it off immediately.
  o Keep the microwave door closed and wait until the fire suffocates.

For additional information visit National Fire Protection Association at nfpa.org.