CARY ’S LIGHTING THE TURKEY & THE TREE TO ILLUSTRATE FIRE SAFETY FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

WHAT:            Turkey Frying and Tree Safety Demonstration, complete with tips, fire and dinner

WHEN:          Friday, November 16, 2007

3 p.m.               

WHERE:         Town of Cary Fire Station 1, 1501 N. Harrison Ave.

                        Back parking area

WHO:              Cary Firefighters will do a demonstration for area media that includes immersing a wet turkey into an over-filled pot of heated oil to demonstrate the potential risk of fire and burn injuries that can occur when the deep-frying process is done improperly.  Then, to illustrate the volatility of a poorly maintained holiday tree, firefighters will ignite a dry tree covered with holiday decorations and packages underneath.  Please note:  This event is not open to the general public.

BACKGROUND:

Every holiday season, burn centers in the United States admit and treat people burned while deep-frying turkeys. In some cases these include injuries to children who run into the fryers while playing nearby or to the cook as a result of splattering, which can occur when a large turkey is emerged into five gallons of boiling oil.  The National Fire Protection Association, the American Burn Association and Underwriter’s Association consider turkey fryers dangerous because oil may spill onto the burner when the turkey is placed in hot oil, thus creating a fire. 

Christmas trees were the items first ignited in an estimated average of 300 reported U.S. home structure fires per year in 2000-2004. These fires cause an average of 14 civilian deaths, 21 civilian injuries, and $16.8 million in direct property damage per year.  On average, one in every 22 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death.

DIRECTIONS:

From I-40, take the North Harrison Avenue exit and travel south.  The fire station is located on the right at the intersection of Cary Parkway and Harrison Avenue . 

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