Fiery demo underscores turkey fryer dangers

Monday evening the Bend Fire Department and High Desert Mill Maker hosted a turkey frying demonstration to show the dangers of turkey fryers and other cooking fires this holiday season.

Along with that demonstration, here are some tips put together by Bend Fire:

The Bend Fire Department reminds citizens to use caution when preparing their holiday meals especially if using a turkey fryer because of the dangers frequently associated with deep fat frying.

“With the increasing popularity of cooking turkeys in deep fat fryers it’s important to remember turkey fryers should be used outdoors and always attended,” advises Deputy Fire Marshal Susie Maniscalco. “It’s dangerous to use them on wooden decks or in garages.”

Citizens need to be careful in the kitchen too.

According to the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, in 2014:

There were 23 deep fryer fires which cause one injury, and $283,570 in property loss.
the leading cause of home fires was related to cooking in the kitchen area 525 homes were destroyed as a result of cooking. Home cooking fires tend to occur between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., while preparing dinner

Follow these tips for cooking your bird safely :

NEVER use your turkey fryer in doors, including garages. Use them outside, away from buildings and decks. Turkey fryers should always be used on a flat, non-combustible surface. Never use on wooden decks or next to your house. Never leave the fryer unattended. Some fryers don’t have thermostat controls and will heat until the oil ignites. Do not overfill the fryer. Excess oil can spill out and catch fire on the open flame below. Oil and water do not mix! Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dried. Also be careful with marinades. A frozen turkey placed in hot oil may splatter and cause a violent fire.
Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handle.
Never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer – the oil inside the cooking pot can remain hot for hours.
Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Use a multi-purpose fire extinguisher for a grease fire.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if a fire occurs.