Nov. 21--More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, and Texas ranks No. 1 for turkey-frying mishaps, Patti Kelly, a State Farm Insurance spokeswoman in Austin, said Wednesday.
The state was tops in the U.S. for turkey deep-fryer insurance claims in 2011 and 2012, Kelly said Wednesday in Abilene. The main culprit of kitchen fires is carelessness, as people get caught up with other activities and leave the fryer unattended.
"Between hosting family and friends, football on the TV, and other activities going on, it is easy to get distracted," Kelly said. "This is a safety issue, a trend we would like to see decrease."
State Farm has teamed up with Si and Jase Robertson of the hit TV show "Duck Dynasty" for a video titled "Hang On A Minute".
Kelly said the video "in a humorous yet educational way" addresses the importance of safety when using a deep fryer.
"Jase and his uncle Si have been frying turkeys for years without incident because they recognize the dangers and take the proper safety measures to reduce the risk of fire," Kelly said.
The popularity of the turkey fryer may have something to do with men taking over the cooking of the main Thanksgiving dish, according to Butterball, which produces poultry products. Recognizing that trend, the Butterball talk line -- 1-800-288-8372 -- which provides assistance and advice to those who need help with their turkeys, added male staffers to answer calls for the first time in 32 years.
U.S. fire departments respond to more than 1,000 fires a year that involve a deep fryer. According to the National Fire Protection Association, deep fryer fires result in more than $15 million in property damage annually. Hot oil splatter can cause serious, even life-threatening, burns.
The association said people who using a turkey fryer should:
Carefully read the manual that comes with the fryer
Never use a homemade frying machine
Keep fryer away from combustible materials
Never use a turkey fryer inside the house or garage
Never leave the fryer unattended
Never put a wet/frozen turkey inside the fryer
Copyright 2013 - Abilene Reporter-News, Texas
