With the Thanksgiving holiday just a few days away, the Fort Wayne Fire Department shares this important safety information from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for those planning on using a Turkey Fryer.
First and foremost, please be aware that the use of turkey fryers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries and the destruction of property. NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. These turkey fryers use a substantial quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures, and units currently available for home use pose a significant danger that hot oil will be released at some point during the cooking process. NFPA urges those who prefer fried turkey to seek out professional establishments, such as grocery stores, specialty food retailers, and restaurants for the preparation of the dish, or consider a new type of "oiless" turkey fryer. UL says the increasing number of fires related to turkey fryers is a risk that outweighs the benefits of the appliance and due to multiple concerns has not certified any turkey fryer with UL Mark.
The CPSC says the majority of reported turkey fryer incidents occur while the oil is being heated. For those planning to use this device anyway, the CPSC and UL offer the following advice:
In case of fire, do not use water to try and extinguish. Never attempt to use water to extinguish a grease fire. Call 9-1-1 immediately. While waiting for the fire department to arrive, an all-purpose fire extinguisher can be used if you have one ready and know how to use it.