Madison Co. Fire Dept., state Fire Marshal offer Thanksgiving cooking safety tips

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. –With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many people are prepping for the big meal Thursday, and local fire officials are doing what they can to keep you and your family safe.

Thanksgiving Turkey is an American tradition, and deep frying one is a beloved way of serving up the bird. But any misstep in cooking it can burn down a house or garage — not to mention seriously injure the cook.

“A fire extinguisher on hand is a good idea,” Madison County Fire Chief Eric Turner said. “We always say, don’t put yourself in jeopardy. If you can control a fire, that’s fine. If not, get out and call 911.”

The fire department is warning families across West Tennessee and giving this advice to avoid a deep-fried turkey disaster — Don’t overfill the pot, and if you buy a frozen turkey, thaw it out.

“You put it in there frozen, and then the hot oil hits that frozen turkey, and then a lot of times it will splash out. When that happens, that’s when you have a fire,” Chief Turner said.

The State Fire Marshal’s office said to never leave anything you’re cooking unattended, even if just for a second.

“Even for a moment, turn off the stove top to go do what you need to do, and then come back and turn it on,” said Claire Marsalis, assistant director for communications and marketing for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. “Unfortunately, we see fires that happen just within a few moments of people leaving the kitchen either to answer the door or to run an errand within another part of the house.”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office offers these safety tips as a reminder to cook smart this year:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave the room, even for a moment, turn off the burner.
• Use a kitchen timer when boiling, simmering, baking, or roasting to remind yourself that you are cooking.
• Use caution with turkey fryers. Oil-less models are available that use infrared heat, rather than oil, to cook the turkey.
• Never leave a turkey fryer unattended. Most fryer units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
• Never let children or pets near the fryer, even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot for hours after use.
• To prevent spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
• Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups. The National Turkey Foundation recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of weight.
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease or oil fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department by dialing 911.