Broward Police Academy

TURKEY FRYER MEDIA SAFETY DEMONSTRATION

11 a.m.

Friday, November 18

Location: Broward Fire Academy

2600 SW 71 Tr., Davie

A popular item that is used at holiday time is the propane gas turkey fryer. These are readily available and inexpensive but can be unsafe, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers except by properly trained professionals using professional quality equipment. Underwriters Laboratories does not certify any of these appliances with their UL mark. New on the market is a similar outdoor unit that does not use oil and should be considered as an alternative to the oil-containing fryers.

“We want our residents to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so this is a good time for a safety-tip refresher,” Sheriff Al Lamberti said.

Since deep fried turkey is a longtime favorite food, especially in the southern United States, people will continue to use the deep fryers. In response to this, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, will demonstrate proper safety measures for those who choose this method. Wearing full protective gear, fire fighters will also demonstrate the consequences of improper use, resulting in a spillover of hot oil and potential fire. Consumer-grade turkey fryers use a substantial quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures and pose a significant danger that hot oil will be released at some point during the cooking process. Additionally, the oil remains hot for hours after the unit is turned off. The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries and the destruction of property. The Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Marshal’s Bureau echoes the NFPA suggestion that those who prefer deep-fried turkey simply purchase one prepared from a grocer, food retailer or restaurant that prepares them using professional equipment.

With Thanksgiving one week from today, Broward Sheriff Fire Marshal Robert Arrighetti reminds residents that “Thanksgiving is the top day for cooking fires to happen, so it is important to keep safety in mind.” According to a recent report published by the U. S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occur annually in the U. S., resulting in an estimated average of 5 deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property loss. By far, the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings is cooking. These fires occur most frequently between noon and 4 p.m. The NFPA reports that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Hundreds of Americans are killed each year due to home cooking fires and thousands more are injured. Cooking fires also cause roughly half a billion dollars in direct property damage to the homes and their contents.