Overview
- NFPA data show an estimated 1,446 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving 2023—a roughly fourfold jump over an average day—with deep fryers linked to annual injuries, deaths and millions in property damage.
- Officials stress fryer fundamentals: fully thaw and dry the bird, measure oil with a water‑displacement test, set up outdoors on a stable noncombustible surface at least 10 feet from structures, and keep children and pets clear.
- Emergency guidance remains firm: never use water on oil fires, keep an ABC or grease‑rated extinguisher at hand, wear protective gear, monitor oil temperature, and turn off heat if the oil begins to smoke.
- Food-safety agencies reiterate safe thawing in the refrigerator or by changing cold water every 30 minutes, cooking turkey to 165°F, skipping rinsing, and refrigerating leftovers within two hours.
- Live demonstrations and local alerts—from Orange County and Tallahassee to Annapolis, Houston and Colorado Springs—show how quickly fryers can ignite and translate national guidance into practical steps.