WATCH OUT FOR THEM TURKEY COOKERS!

[escavader]

On saturday ,after riding atvs all day,at our camp we decided to get the turkey cooker and basket out,and make some onion rings and fries for supper.I called some friends up to come for supper,and then fired it up to heat the oil.It was starting to rain so i decided we would do it under a lean to i have to keep my atvs in.Well the oil thermometer apparently didnt work,my wife said is it ready yet...no it hasnt heated up yet,i replyed.I kept one eye on that thermometer,and was cooking on our gas grill,and tending a fire in our fire pit all the same time.At the very same time our guest arrived,i noticed dark smoke coming from around the lid on the pan...then flames,the grease had caught fire!!I sent the wife running for an extinguisher [inside],my friend HARRY,running for gloves,meanwhile i shut the gas off and fumbled with the lid trying to contain it.
When i got the gloves,i tryed carrying the pot out,only to have the cover shift slightly,allowing flames to creep out.After several attempts i got it away from the buildings,into an open area.What do i do now ? i said.My friends said get a long pole and dump it over.I should have listened to the pole idea .I STUCK MY FOOT OUT TURNED MY HEAD,KICKED IT OVER AND RAN! When i got away from that fireball,and looked back it must have been 12 ft high,must have been 20 when i was trying to escape. IM glad it was raining or id of caught fire for sure!all this from 6 inchs of oil!
Lessons learned
1 oil cookers deserve un divided attention
2 never cook in or around buildings in an open area in case of fire
3 have an extinguisher ready
4 have heavy gloves on hand
5 if fire starts let it burn out ,dont tip it over to save an inexspensive pot
Well after every one calmed down ,we tryed again,the food turned out great and luck was on my side.I just wanted to post this to let everyone
know ,these cookers can be dangerous,please be carefull1
ALAN

 

[rox]

Or you can do what the chefs do, throw flour on it....

You obviously can't throw water on a grease or oil fire so the chefs throw lour which really does work well...

 

[escavader]

ROX,
Cant say ive heard of that,probably cause i dont cook alot in a kitchen.How much flour would it take to put out ..say 1 gallon grease fire?Another lady told me ,baking soda would put out a grease fire.Im thinking a little box of soda might not help when this much grease is burning ...or would it?I dont even know if that small extinguisher would have put it out.Nice to see your still tuned in to TBN. How is the olives this year going?
ANY firemen out there to hit on this one with how much stuff to put out a large grease fire?
ALAN

 

[Ronbo]

Shoulda just left the lid on it. That would have put out the fire.
A small extinguisher aimed at the opposite side of the pot, so that it doesn't directly hit the flaming oil, would have also worked.

Ron

 

[Adron]

Before ignition: All your preperations are are pretty much right on.

After ignition: Turn propane off, leave lid on. No air, no fire. Let it cool.

Baking soda...OK if there is no lid. Need to smother it. Not sure if a small box of baking soda will cover the entire surface area of the grease. Flour, I gotta say no way. Flour in its dust stage will not only burn, but is actually explosive.

Ronbo is absolutely right about the extinguisher. Don't shoot it at the flames you will just splatter the flaming grease around, but rather just over the top of the flame interface, where the flame meets the grease.

Water NEVER!!! Water will instantly turn to steam, increase in volume over 200 times, and blow scalding flaming grease over a large area. Can you say 3rd degree burns on everyone within say 20 -30 feet in all directions? And multiple alarm structure fire with casualties?

Good post!

 

[midlf]

As flour dust can be explosive I would use salt.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

Isn't there an Allstate insurance commercial that has the guy talking about how many people burned down there house with a turkey frying?

Do not use flour!!

Good lesson to show that you should keep the turking fryer away from any building or vehicles for at least 20-30 feet, a little bit of a walk can save a whole lot of other problems.

steve

 

[rox]

I guess I have gotten lucky then becuase I put out a big pot of fire with flour. I was heating the oil to make homemade french fries, the kids distrated me (this is years ago) and I turned to the stove and it was shooting flames.

I doused it with flour and it worked for me. I'll take your word for it from the experts though, will reach for salt next time, however I always have big containers of flour and only a couple boxes of salt.

 

[Adron]

Rox:
I think the flour would work if you used a comparativly large amount all at once. It would definately have a smothering effect. The problem would be if the flour became dust as in a small amount spread in the air. Then there is a problem. So, #1, put a lid on it, #2 use an A-B, B-C, or A-B-C type fire extinguisher (Hint: these always make a mess, so know where your lids are). Just thinking about it before it is a problem is the main thing.

 

[dmccarty]

Rox,

I could see flour working since it would float on top of the oil. And don't understand how salt is going to smother a fire unless the pot was filled.

Later,
Dan