VIDEO: Cooking fires are nationally very common this time of year.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department says, in the Spokane region, cooking fire calls happen three to five times more during the holidays than any other time of year.
This includes fires started with the improper use of a turkey fryer.
The fryer should be on a stable surface that’s not too close to your home or anything flammable, like a concrete surface outside. Make sure you put enough oil in your turkey fryer, but not too much, depending on your turkey size. SVFD Fire Marshal Greg Rogers says it helps to fill your fryer with water as a test.
Then, get your oil to the right temperature. Too much oil that’s too hot can spill over and be dangerous.
Putting a frozen turkey in a turkey fryer is also a big mistake. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed out before you cook it.