Victoria fire marshal shows dangers of Thanksgiving turkey

Nov. 24--The frozen turkey splashed into the oil-filled fryer -- kaboom.

Flames momentarily burst skyward, and then withered away, causing no harm.

In an open field near the Victoria Regional Airport, the fire -- set by Victoria firefighters -- showed the dangers of cooking Thanksgiving turkeys that have not been thawed completely.

"It just made a big fireball," Victoria Fire Marshal Ron Pray said Monday. "If that had happened in someone's garage, kitchen, or laundry room, it could be very devastating."

When a frozen turkey hits boiling oil, the solid water becomes steam. In turn, the steam pushes the oil out, and the fryer's flame sets the oil on fire, Pray said.

By one measure, cooking fires during Thanksgiving happen in Texas more than any other state.

Between 2005 and 2014, 39 State Farm Insurance customers in Texas reported claims stemming from cooking fires on Thanksgiving, according to a news release. Ohio and Illinois tied at No. 2 with 28.

To avoid cooking fires, Pray said, Victoria residents should completely thaw their turkeys before dunking them in hot oil.

He also stressed caution while putting the turkey in the oil: Be slow to avoid burn-causing splatter.

The firefighters who staged the cooking fire dropped the turkey in the fryer with a long stick and wore full protective gear.

"They're a little more protected than the average Joe," Pray said.

___

(c)2015 Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas)

Visit Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas) at www.victoriaadvocate.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.