Florida In Top 10 For Thanksgiving Day Cooking Fires

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The traditional Thanksgiving Day feast conjures up images of family, good times and good food.

But that's not all.

Based on data from Illinois based insurance giant State Farm, more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. In fact, cooking related claims more than double on Thanksgiving Day compared to any other day in November.

This Florida made the top ten for states for cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day.

One factor that plays a role is the increasing popularity of turkey fryers. Fire departments the nation respond to about a thousand fires each year involving turkey fryers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says deep fryer fires result in more than $15 million in property damage each year and hot oil splatter can cause serious burns to an adult or life threatening injuries to a child.

According to State Farm Insurance claims data, the top 10 states for grease and cooking-related claims on Thanksgiving Day (2005-2010) are:

1. Texas
2. Illinois
3. Ohio
4. New York
5. Pennsylvania
6. Michigan
7. Florida
8. Minnesota
9. Indiana
10. Louisiana

According to State Farm, most turkey fryer fires are preventable.

More than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio. Cook outdoors at a safe distance from any buildings or trees and keep the fryer off any wooden structures, such as a deck or patio.

Avoid a hot oil spill over by first filling the pot with cold oil and then lower the thawed turkey into the pot to determine how much oil should be either added or removed.

Shut off the fuel source or flame when adding the turkey to the hot oil to prevent a dangerous flare-up if oil does spill over the rim.

Make sure your turkey is properly thawed before lowering it slowly into the pot.

Never leave a hot turkey fryer unattended.

Do not use ice or water to cool down oil or extinguish an oil fire.

Keep an extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fire nearby.