State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer urges fire safety on Thanksgiving Day, which is the leading day for home cooking fires.

Consumers who use portable deep fryers to cook turkeys should know the dangers and consider using the safer, oil-less fryers.

“Unattended cooking is the main cause of residential fires, especially on Thanksgiving when busy cooks can be distracted,” Sehlmeyer said. “Never leave cooking unattended, not even for a second. Cooking fires can easily be prevented by following a few simple precautions.”

He also emphasized that portable propane fueled turkey fryers, a popular and faster cooking method for Thanksgiving turkeys, poses a considerable fire risk if not done correctly.

“Deep frying a turkey in several gallons of hot oil over 350 degrees is as flammable as gasoline if the cooking oil vapors ignite,” Sehlmeyer said. “Never use a portable deep fryer in a garage, on or under a deck, breezeway, porch or inside any structure. Improper use of deep frying of turkeys can be dangerous and accounts for the high number of house and garage fires reported each year.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, portable deep fryers that use oil, as currently designed, are not suitable for acceptably safe use by even well-informed and careful consumers.

Portable deep fryers use a lot of oil and vapor coming off the heated cooking oil is highly combustible. Care must be used to not overfill the cooking oil in a portable deep fryer or you will get splash-back and boil over when immersing the turkey.

Grease fires commonly start with cooking oil spilling over the sides of the fryer onto the flames below. Vapors can ignite if the unit is heated beyond its cooking temperature of 350 degrees. If rain or snow hits the hot cooking oil, the cooking oil may splatter or turn to steam that can lead to burns.

Sehlmeyer said oil-less electric or infrared models are much safer methods of cooking Thanksgiving turkeys, provided instructions are followed carefully.

Safety precautions to take when using a portable propane deep fryer include:

• Read and follow the manufacturer’s user guide

• Always use the portable deep fryer on a flat surface, well away from houses, garages, decks, trees, bushes and other outdoor hazards

• Use a portable deep fryer with a gas valve controller

• Make sure turkeys are completely thawed and dry the turkey prior to putting in the fryer; extra water or placing a frozen turkey in the fryer will cause the cooking oil to bubble and spill over

• Never leave the portable deep fryer unattended

• Keep children and pets away from the portable deep fryer

• Allow at least 2 feet of space between the liquid propane tank and the portable deep fryer burner

• Only use cooking oil recommended by the deep fryer manufacturer; do not use cheaper or different types of cooking oil for the portable deep fryer because the cooking oils have different ignition temperatures when heated

• Do not overfill the portable deep fryer with cooking oil that can result in the overflow of the cooking oil and a flash fire when immersing the turkey into the cooking oil

• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts as the deep fryer lid and handle can become very hot; wear safety goggles to protect eyes from cooking oil splatter

• Be careful with marinades, as cooking oil and water do not mix, and water causes the cooking oil to spill over, causing a fire or even an explosion hazard during cooking oil boil over

• If the cooking oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the propane tank to “off” by closing the propane tank valve

• Keep a fire extinguisher (dry-powder) ready at all times; never use water to extinguish a cooking oil or grease fire

• Cooking in the kitchen has its own fire risks with stovetops and ovens working overtime, and busy cooks becoming distracted preparing the holiday feast while entertaining guests

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the average number of reported residential fires more than doubles on Thanksgiving Day compared to any other day of the year.

Sixty-seven percent of home cooking fires start when food or cooking materials catch on fire.

More than half of home cooking fire injuries happened when people tried to fight the fire themselves.

“Always keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it,” Sehlmeyer said. “If you don’t know how to use a fire extinguisher, don’t try and fight a fire yourself. Immediately call 9-1-1 in such emergencies and evacuate your family and friends out of the home.”

Cooking fires can easily be prevented by taking a few simple precautions:

• Start with a clean stove and oven

• Remove food and grease buildup from burners, stovetop
and oven

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent pot tipping by young children or catching on loose clothing

• Wear short sleeves or roll sleeves up, so not to catch clothing on fire during cooking

• Check food regularly while it is simmering, baking, boiling or roasting

• Set timers to keep track of turkeys and other foods that require extended cooking times

• Turn off the stove if you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time

• Keep children away from cooking areas; do not hold children while cooking

• Keep kitchen clutter, potholders, towels and food wrappers well away from the stove, candles and other open flames

• Keep a pan lid or cookie sheet nearby; always use an oven mitt

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed

• Have working smoke alarms in the home and have an escape plan the entire family knows, and have two ways out if a fire occurs.

The Bureau of Fire Services wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Visit the Bureau of Fire Services website at michigan.gov/bfs for more fire safety information.