Emergency officials offers safety tips for frying turkey this holiday

SALISBURY, Md. – We are nine, yes nine, days away from Thanksgiving. And as many families prepare to make a thanksgiving feast, fire officials want you to be careful about what you cook. There are many ways to cook a turkey, but if you decide to fry one, officials want to remind you of a few safety tips. Officials say thousands of fires as well as many deaths and injuries happen each year due to turkey fryer fires. They say one of the most common ways frying a turkey can go wrong is if the turkey isn’t completely dry or thawed. They say the extra water can cause the oil to bubble and spill over. And if oil spills from the fryer onto the burner it can cause a fire.

“You just have those certain things to look out for keep the fryer away from the house or away from anything that is going to burn. I’ve even seen some people do it inside their garages which isn’t a very good idea,” said Maryland State Fire Marshal Kirby Travers.

Officials add that if you do decide to fry your turkey, make sure you also have a fire extinguisher ready at all times in the event that the oil ignites.