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Broward Sheriff's Office, Lauderdale Lakes demonstrate turkey-frying safety
Summary
Fire officials demonstrated safe turkey-frying techniques in Lauderdale Lakes, advising residents to fully thaw birds, keep fryers at least 10 feet from structures, use a fill-line to avoid overfilling and never use water on a grease fire.
Battalion Chief King of the Broward Sheriff's Office led an annual turkey-frying safety demonstration in Lauderdale Lakes on Thursday and urged residents to take precautions when deep-frying turkeys.
"Water is not the solution to fighting a grease fire," Battalion Chief King said, warning that water can spread burning oil and make a blaze worse. Mayor Edwards Phillips thanked the fire department for the demonstration and said the event is part of efforts to reduce Thanksgiving cooking accidents.
King said one of the most common mistakes is not fully thawing a large turkey before frying. "They need to be completely thawed," he said, and added that birds weighing 9 to 25 pounds can take days to defrost safely. He recommended a simple fill-line method: place the turkey in the pot, fill with water to the safe level, mark that line and use it when filling oil so the fryer is not overfilled.
The chief warned that an overfilled or too-hot fryer can cause boil‑over that contacts heating elements and ignites, and he described an intentionally overfilled demonstration to show how quickly a catastrophic event can occur. He also urged residents to fry turkeys no closer than 10 feet from any structure, avoid overhangs and balconies and never deep-fry indoors because confined spaces increase the risk of fire spreading.
Organizers emphasized protective gear and safe clothing. King said firefighters wear full protective equipment for the demo and recommended that residents at a minimum use eye protection, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes while operating a fryer. "If that fryer tips over, you're gonna have 500 degree oil filling your area," he said, underscoring the burn risk.
For equipment, the chief recommended keeping a dry-chemical fire extinguisher nearby and reiterated that 911 should be called immediately for any mishap so emergency crews can respond.
The demonstration is part of an ongoing public-education campaign that King said has coincided with an anecdotal decline in frying-related emergency calls over the past decade. Organizers said the goal is to lower injuries and home fires by giving residents practical guidance they can use on Thanksgiving and other holidays.
