DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – You’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year and hope to have the perfect fried turkey. Instead, your turkey fryer causes a fire, one that could have been avoided.
When frying a turkey, never put it in the fryer while it is frozen. It’s a remedy for disaster and will result in a huge fireball.
A Decatur firefighter demonstrates how placing a frozen turkey into a turkey-fryer can cause a fire. November 20, 2025.
Decatur firefighters from Engine #6 were at WAND News on Thursday to demonstrate how quickly a fire can ignite.
Recommendations to avoid a fire from a turkey fryer:
- Make sure the turkey is fully thawed and dried.
- Never use a fryer unless it is at least 10 feet from homes and wood decks and never use a fryer in a garage.
- Always cook with the fryer on a flat surface.
- Always have a fire extinguisher ready. Never put water on a grease fire.
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