An estimated 2,000 residential fires are reported annually on Thanksgiving Day, causing an estimated average of five deaths, 25 injuries and more than $20 million in property loss, according to a U.S. Fire Administration report.

In recent advertising from insurance agency State Farm, actor William Shatner hints that botched efforts to deep-fry turkeys are a large contributor to Thanksgiving fires.

“That fryer took so much from me,” Shatner said in a video for State Farm. “Mostly arm hair, a little skin, but it gave me a healthy fear. Fire, metal, oil and turkey are glorious when in harmony, but their power is unrelenting in careless hands.”

State Farm said Texas is one of the top three states in the nation for turkey frying, and Abilene Fire Department Lt. Greg Goettsch said Abilene has seen its fair share of fires started by turkey fryers.

Structure fires occur when people try to use the turkey fryer in a garage or on a porch, he said, adding they can be avoided by placing the fryer in an open space away from structures.

A major hazard in frying a turkey is that the mass of the bird can cause the hot oil to overflow when the turkey is being dropped in.

To avoid making this mistake, Goettsch recommended testing the level by filling the fryer with cool water and dropping the turkey in to see how much space it will take. The water can then be emptied and replaced with the proper amount of oil.

If an accident occurs, Goettsch had these suggestions.

“If something happens where all the oil is still in the pot but it catches fire,” he said, “the very best thing you can do is try to get a lid on it. Getting a lid on it will snuff it out.”

For an incident involving spilled oil, he said, baking soda is a very good tool for fighting a grease fire.

This is tricky, he said, because a lot of people are misinformed concerning the baking soda tip.

“A lot of people misremember this by throwing flour on it,” he said. “All that does is turn it into gravy. Baking soda is the only thing that smothers it.”

Most importantly, he said, users should always follow manufacturer’s directions, including avoiding putting frozen food into the fryer.

“It causes a heck of a reaction when you put frozen food in a deep fat fryer,” he said.

Incidents involving flames can quickly escalate into major emergencies, he said, so calling 911 at the earliest opportunity is the safest way to handle a problem.

Goettsche said the flavor of a fried turkey is “hard to beat” but the recommendation of the fire department is to let professionals do the frying.

Some professional cooks believe there are better, less dangerous ways to prepare Thanksgiving birds.

Jimmy Allmand runs Taste of West Texas, a booth that serves fried favorites annually at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo.

He also owns the Fifth Street Diner at the Abilene State Supported Living Center and has plenty of experience in the kitchen. While he has fried a turkey before, he said it’s not something he makes a habit of.

“It’s very dangerous,” he said, “so much it’s kind of becoming out of style.”

Oilless cooking is a much safer alternative, he said, and he suggested purchasing an oil-free steamer to get a similar flavor without the danger.

Personally, he said, he has had great luck using a 24-quart slow cooker for his Thanksgiving bird in years past.

“Throw the turkey in it and throw the seasoning in it,” he said. “I would definitely ditch the oil fryer. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

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