Turkey fryer mishap lights garage on fire

By: Lauren Fabrizi
lfabrizi@klkntv.com

A Lincoln family’s Thanksgiving celebration was cut short Thursday night after part of their house went up in flames. 

It happened around 5:30 near S. 30th Street and Yankee Hill Road.

Jeff Johnson, who lives across the street, was on his way back home when he saw their turkey fryer catch fire in the driveway.

“By the time I came around the circle drive here, it had grown,” Johnson said. “It’s probably ten foot tall. It was starting to burn the truck up. And it was starting to burn on the garage doors.”

Johnson immediately called 911. Another neighbor banged on the door, urging the nearly 20 people inside to get out.

“All the people that were occupying the house at the time escaped without injuries,” Battalion Chief Tim Linke of Lincoln Fire & Rescue said.

Officials said the turkey fryer had a faulty propane tank. A gas leak ignited a nearby garbage can. Flames quickly spread to the pickup in the driveway, and then to the garage doors.

“The fire was knocked down pretty quickly,” Linke said.

Statistics show more cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. A good portion of those involve deep fryers.

Officials said luckily this Thanksgiving, this was the only turkey–related fire in Lincoln. It was contained to the outside of the garage. Within a couple hours, the family was able to head back inside.

Johnson said he’s glad he caught it when he did.

“Without a doubt, always help a neighbor out,” he said.

Officials estimate about $80,000 dollars in damage.