Whether you're an amateur, or a pro, cooking a turkey can be tricky.    Â
One way that is gaining popularity is deep frying your bird, but it can be a little dangerous. Sparks Fire recommends against anyone deep frying their turkey, but since people are going to do it anyway, they thought they would show us how things can go wrong.
"There's a lot of prep work that should go into this, like knowing how to cook the grease, how to cook the oils, how to actually control everything, making sure you have a safe spot to do this," said Assistant Fire Marshal Chris McCubbins.
We took it straight from the freezer to the hot oil, which caused a chain reaction forcing the 325 degree oil to come shooting out, and igniting on the flame.
Every year fire departments across the nation respond to fires created by improper Thanksgiving cooking, several of which could have been avoided with proper use of the deep firer, so Sparks Fire also showed us the proper way deep fry a turkey.
“When we are doing this turkey frying, if we see smoke coming from the pan then we need to be turning the heat down," said McCubbins.
They also have a few other safety tips:
•   Completely dry your turkey
•   Know the smoke point of the oil you are using
•   Never leave hot oil unattended
•  Have the proper fire extinguisher for grease fires, just in case
The Reno Fire Department says if you plan on deep frying a turkey this Thanksgiving, be aware that the cooking units can easily tip over, and a small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire.
Follow these safety tips when frying a turkey:
• Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials.Â
• Never use a fryer inside or on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, or in a garage.Â
• Do not overfill fryer.Â
• Never leave the fryer unattended because, without thermostat controls, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.Â
• Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours.Â
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer.Â
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect from splatter.Â
If a fire does occur in the kitchen know how to calmly handle the situation. Grease fires cause the most injuries. Never pour water on a grease fire. Smother it, if possible, and let it die out. If grease ignites in your cooking pan, quickly put on an oven mitt and slide the lid over the flames as opposed to dropping the lid down from above. Turn off the burner and leave the pan exactly where it is so that it can cool. Never attempt to carry it outside or put it in the sink, as the fire can quickly spread to other combustibles or persons.
The Reno Fire Department also recommends the purchase of a multi-purpose (ABC rated) Fire Extinguisher. To properly use a fire extinguisher just remember the acronym P.A.S.S:
1. Pull the pin.Â
2. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.Â
3. Squeeze the trigger.Â
4. Sweep from side to side.Â
(Sparks Fire & Reno Fire Departments contributed to this report.)
