GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Green Bay Metro Fire Department is providing some last minute reminders to make sure your Thanksgiving gathering doesn’t go up in flames.
Maybe you’ve had a hard time perfecting your holiday bird in the past… Many swear by frying the turkey to get the most flavor possible.
If you’re planning on giving your turkey a bath in hot oil for Thanksgiving, fire officials want you to remember a few things first.
Lieutenant Shauna Walesh with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department says more times than not, a fire stemming from frying a turkey is preventable if the fryer is placed in a safe location.
“Never cook these or never use these in a garage,” says Lt. Walesh. “Keep these at least ten feet, if not farther, from any buildings or cars.”
Lt. Shauna Walesh helped conduct a safe demonstration of what can go wrong with frying a turkey at NWTC on Wednesday morning.
She says to remember that your turkey still has to be thawed out beforehand, not straight out of the freezer.
“The turkey we used today was frozen solid, so don’t do that,” she says.
And even if the fryer is in a safe location and the bird has thawed it’s still important to be prepared for the worst.
“Have an extinguisher ready as well, just in case something does happen,” explains Lt. Walesh.
And often times a small fire can be contained and total disaster can be avoided if you act quickly and contact officials.
“If something does happen call 9-1-1, we’re here for a reason to help out if needed,” she says.
Officials say that Thanksgiving trumps Christmas Day for the most frequent home cooking fires.
The leading cause of home cooking fires is unattended cooking.
It’s important to make the kitchen as “kid-friendly” as possible, which means keeping the floor clear of anything kids could trip over and keeping knives out of reach.
Matches and utility lighters should also be kept out of the reach of children and they shouldn’t be left alone in a room with a lit candle.
Lastly, make sure your home smoke alarm is working properly by simply pushing the test button.
