Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Turkey Fryer Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Charlotte County Fire Marshal demonstrates safe and unsafe turkey-frying methods ahead of Thanksgiving
Summary
Fire Marshal Scott Morris demonstrated how overfilling, freezing a turkey and disabling safety features can spark fryer fires, and urged residents to thaw and dry birds, test oil displacement, use an ABC extinguisher and keep fryers on hard surfaces away from children; more info at charlottecountyfl.gov.
Fire Marshal Scott Morris of Charlotte County Fire and EMS demonstrated safe and unsafe methods for frying a turkey at the Punta Gorda Public Safety Building, saying the demonstration was timed for the Thanksgiving period when fryer-related fires rise.
Morris cited data from the National Fire Protection Association and said firefighters see a higher number of fryer fires during the holidays. "We're gonna show you 2 ways, the right way to fry a turkey and the wrong way to fry a turkey," he said, introducing the side-by-side demonstration intended to highlight common household mistakes that lead to fires.
During the demonstration, Morris showed two common hazards: an overfilled pot and safety devices on the LPG tank and the cooking pot that had been manipulated to simulate unsafe conditions. He also put a frozen turkey into hot oil to show how rapid overflow and flare-ups can occur when a bird is not properly thawed.
Morris offered practical steps for residents who choose to fry a turkey: thaw and dry the turkey according to the manufacturer's instructions; place the turkey in the pot first and then fill with oil to confirm the correct fill level before heating; keep the fryer on a hard, level surface; keep bystanders, especially children, away from the cooking area; and have a charged ABC fire extinguisher on hand. "You don't wanna put water on a fire because it just spreads it more," he said.
Charlotte County Fire and EMS directs residents to charlottecountyfl.gov for additional guidance on safe frying practices and local safety resources.
