GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and there's some safety precautions you need to keep in mind if it's your turn to cook this year's feast.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department held a demonstration using a deep fryer. A firefighter dropped a frozen turkey into it, and a large ball of fire shot up into the air. This could have been a real danger in a real-life scenario.
"We over-filled the oil, let it get too hot, and we used a frozen turkey," Ric Dokter, the Grand Rapids Fire marshal explained.
Dokter said those are three mistakes people make that could burn down their home and burn them.
Instead, state fire marshal Julie Secontine said, "You have to make sure your turkey is completely thawed and patted dry because oil and water do not mix."
She said the number of house fires double around Thanksgiving compared to the rest of the year.
Dokter said, "A lot of people only cook or cook more this time of year. So it is definitely something that want people to be extra careful about."
So if a turkey fryer is in your plans for the holidays, the fire marshal said use it outside, and keep an extinguisher handy. Also, make sure it's at least 20 feet from anything that's combustible.
If it's raining, don't use it. Oil and water don't mix.
The GRFD's demonstration took a few tries to ignite. Regardless, the fire marshal said it's a chance you don't want to take.
