This Thanksgiving, countless Alabamians well celebrate the holiday by dunking a turkey into a deep fryer to cook the bird to a nice, golden crisp. However, as the number of Alabamians frying their turkeys has risen, so has the number of Thanksgiving day fryer fires.
This year, the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office advised against the use of turkey fryers because “the dangers associated with deep-frying a turkey aren’t worth the risk, even by a well-informed and cautious user.” However, the office understands that many people will do so anyway and released a list of precautions for those willing to fry up their thanksgiving meal.
To optimize safety, here are the ten things Alabamians should do to make sure their Thanksgiving experience does not include their local fire department.
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• Always use fryers outdoors, on a solid level surface away from buildings and flammable materials
• Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage or enclosed space
• Do not overfill the fryer
• Never leave the fryer unattended because, without thermostat controls, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire
• Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect from splatter
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer.
• If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the gas supply off
• If a fire is manageable,use an all-purpose fire extinguisher
• Never use water to extinguish a grease fire – if the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help
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