This is one of the more ridiculous videos that you are going to see in your lifetime. Sadly, these types of videos seem to take place every single year.
That’s why Mississippi authorities decided to nip the problem in the bud by issuing this very important demonstration video. Anyone who is considering placing a frozen turkey in a fryer needs to see this one immediately.
The Gulfport Fire Department is responsible for this demonstration and we cannot get enough. They uploaded the video to their Facebook page and it received a sizable number of views.
This was a necessary post, as they wanted residents to see the dangers of this practice during the lead-up to Thanksgiving. This makes all of the sense in the world to us. After all, safety first, right?
“We put in a frozen turkey, and it immediately thaws out. The water [from the turkey] makes the oil [in the fryer] flare up,” fire chief Billy Kelley says in the clip. As expected, it does not take long before the frozen turkey ends up bursting into flames. It’s a sobering reminder of what can happen when we do not take the time to take the proper precautions before the big meal.
Even though the volunteers that were on hand were clearly expecting an explosion, they still struggled to put out this massive fireball. Now, viewers can imagine just how scary it would be to have to handle this type of firestorm without the help of the professionals. This volunteer definitely struggled to extinguish the flames.
Kelley says that it is important to let the turkey fully thaw before it is tossed into the fryer. This is because oil and water are not a great mix. The Scientific American concurs with Kelley’s assessment, stating that an interaction between oil and water “at different densities” will lead to these types of explosions.
“Fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths, 60 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage each year,” says the New York Fire Department.
Turkeys also should not be fried in enclosed areas, so that these types of flare-ups do not have a chance. While many Americans may have opted for a different bird due to inflation prices, those who celebrated this year were more than happy to keep any and all explosions from occurring.
Watch the firey demonstration in the video below: