DORAL, FLA. (WSVN) - Fire crews in South Florida are urging those planning to deep fry their turkey this Thanksgiving to be cautious.
With Thanksgiving this Thursday, many have deep fried turkey on their holiday menu, and fire rescue officials warned if the turkey is not properly prepared, dipping it into the deep fryer can cause an explosion.
Firefighters see almost double the normal number of cooking fires on Thanksgiving. “We always see examples of what you should do,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighter Maggie Castro. “We’re here to show you what you shouldn’t do.”
During the cooking process, having mats around the kitchen could be a tripping hazard, as well. “You have a lot of friends and family over,” said Castro. “A lot of people who aren’t familiar with your household. Kids running around, they get excited. It just takes one split second for somebody to get hurt.”
Castro said keeping children away from hot stoves with a taped off area is one way to prevent accidents as well as keeping sharp objects from the edge of the counter. “The best way to keep pots and pans is with the handles pointed in,” said Castro.
Turkey fryers reportedly cause 1,000 injuries per year. Those injuries can amount to almost $15 million in property damages and medical bills. Experts suggest to test equipment and make certain it is working properly.
“He is wearing safety glasses,” said Castro as another fire rescue official demonstrated the proper use for turkey fryers. “He is wearing oven mits. Nice and easy, you wanna make sure you don’t drop it into the oil. Put it in slowly.”
Make sure pets are out of the area, as well, as they can cause someone to trip and fall.
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