New Bedford Recalls Dangers of Deep Frying Thanksgiving Turkey

A Thanksgiving Day celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy for residents of New Bedford's Washburn Street neighborhood on November 26, 2020, when a deep fryer ignited a gas tank, resulting in an explosion and fire that destroyed three multi-family homes.

An investigation indicated that one of the residents was attempting to deep-fry a Thanksgiving turkey on a back deck when the explosion occurred that morning. It was a rainy morning and the fryer, filled with hot oil, may have been moved to the deck from the yard to keep it from getting wet.

A woman was injured and 27 others were left homeless as a result of the explosion and fire.

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Real Property Management Boston (RPMB) says, "Not surprisingly, the counts of injuries associated with deep-frying a turkey have multiplied, together with the fame of this cooking style."

The site says, "Deep-frying a turkey is an especially hazardous cooking style."

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Citing the National Fire Protection Association, RPMB says, "In excess of 1,000 residential fires are initiated by a turkey fryer year after year, causing the destruction of nearly 900 homes and causing 60 injuries and five deaths."

A 79-year-old customer suffered severe burns and a store employee and an 11-month-old child were also sent to the hospital after a deep fryer shot out hot cooking oil at the Plymouth Market Basket back in August.

Sikkerhverdag.com says, "Never leave a deep fat fryer or a pan of hot fan unattended. If it catches fire, you have only a few minutes to put it out."

The site suggests using a blanket or lid to douse the flames but never water. "Water and hot fat do not mix," says the site. "If you try to put out a hot fat fire with water, you will create an explosive fireball."

The U.S. Food and Department of Agriculture website has tips for safe deep fryer cooking.

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