• Patronis, who doubles as the State Fire Marshal, is offering important Thanksgiving fire safety tips to keep Floridians safe ahead of the holidays
• The CFO stressed that “caution is key” when putting together this year’s family feast 
• Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is using his role as the State Fire Marshal to help Floridians stay safe when frying a turkey this Thanksgiving.

Among the tips, Patronis noted that “caution is key” when operating a turkey fryer. He stressed in a Tuesday news release that Floridians should set up the turkey fryer far away from their home and ensure sure the ground is level.

Patronis also said that the bird must be completely thawed before putting it into the fryer, and that hot oil combining with ice or water is a significant fire hazard.

Additionally, the CFO urged Floridians to never overfill a fryer, and to keep children at a safe distance while cooking.

Finally, Patronis added that families should always have a fire extinguisher handy in case of an accident.

“Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year to spendwith family and friends, please don’t let a botched turkey fry or a kitchen fire get in the way of that,” said Patronis. “These types of cooking fires are extremely hazardous, and all Floridians need to be sure that they are constantly supervising their cooks, and are following these critical fire safety tips so you and your family can have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. Additionally, the NFPA recommends you test your smoke alarm at least once a month and replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.