Be careful when frying a Turkey this Thanksgiving, William Shatner says

While many Thanksgiving safety messages are geared toward motorists, authorities are reminding cooks to be cautious in the kitchen this Thanksgiving, especially when frying a turkey.

“I love to fry turkey and have been doing it for years but I am not immune to frying accidents,” actor William Shatner said in a news release. “People need to remember that hot oil and turkey can be a dangerous combination.”

In 2011, State Farm teamed up with Shatner to produce “Eat, Fry, Love: A Cautionary Tale,” a short video “that dramatized an actual accident where the celebrity was burned in a turkey fryer mishap on Thanksgiving.” In the wake of that video, claims related to grease and cooking fires occurring on Thanksgiving Day were cut in half, State Farm said.

Officials have a few simple tips for avoiding cooking calamities this Thanksgiving, including installing enough smoke detectors, setting a timer when cooking and never use a cooking stove to heat a home. In addition, officials suggest households have a fire extinguisher handy and an evacuation plan at the ready.

Most fatal fires happen between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., when families are sleeping, according to officials. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires.

“We’ve had 9 fatalities in Georgia so far this year in which the cause of the fire was cooking-related,” Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said in a news release. “Over the years we have seen many fires caused by a stove that has been accidentally left on.”