Rhune
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Turkey Flame Throwers
« on: Nov 28th, 2005, 4:19pm » |
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In 1999, the last year figures were available, the National Fire Protection Association (search) reported that 500 fires involving a deep-fat fryer took place around the nation, resulting in over $6.8 million dollars in damage.
The numbers (for turkey-fryer fires) are not going down but going up," said Barbara Guthrie, the director of consumer affairs at Underwriters. "At present, we do not believe that there are any sufficient standards that address the safety concerns."
Guthrie said those concerns begin with 5 gallons of scalding 700-degree grease precariously perched over an open flame. And many fryers are unstable — especially the tripod models — which leads to a high incidence of tipping.
When the oil meets the fire, Guthrie said, the fryers instantly become a "vertical flame thrower."
The Underwriters Web site features a video of a turkey fryer filled with hot oil that overflows. When the grease hits the flame, the fryer turns into a volcano of smoke and fire in just seconds.
"We don't believe the taste is worth risking your home, your life or the life of your children," said Guthrie.
Maryland does not keep fryer-specific data, Taylor said. But he noted that cooking fires and kitchen fires are the No. 1 cause of fire in the state, and on days like Thanksgiving when everyone is in the kitchen — or over the fryer — the problems can greatly increase. Statistics also show that many of these "Turkey Fires" involve the use of alcoholic beverages being consumed during the cooking process.
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