CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Families across the United States will have their stoves working overtime Thanksgiving Day. With that said, it's no surprise that many cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, from 2014 to 2016 there were 2,400 residential buildings reporting a fire on Thanksgiving Day -- with around $19 million in property loss.
Explosive fires can be caused by frozen turkeys being dropped into piping hot oil.
To avoid fires, here are some important safety tips to remember:
- Never use a frozen turkey, because the ice and water will react with the hot oil.
- Don't overfill the oil in the pot.
- Lastly, if there is a grease fire, don't use water to put it out, it will only make it worse.
A few weeks ago, 15-year-old Joshua Kellar was critically burned from hot grease.
He suffered 3rd-degree burns to 25% of his body after his family says a grease fire broke out in the kitchen. It's a story worth hearing, and a lesson worth remembering this Thanksgiving.
If a fire does happen, you'll want to know how to use a fire extinguisher. Stand eight feet from flame and move from side to side. If you don't get results in 10 seconds, get out and call 911.