New Jersey
Will the NJ drought cancel your deep-fried turkey tradition? We asked and found out
2-minute read
Thanksgiving turkey deep frying can get dangerous very quickly
Deep frying a turkey is dangerous. Here are tips from fire safety experts to avoid burning down your house.
Michael V. Pettigano, Rebecca King and Paul Wood Jr, NorthJersey.com
Deep-frying a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner can be a tradition for some, a risky adventure for others and a generally bad idea for many.
News of quick-spreading oil fires followed a deep-frying fad that spread from the South and across the country a generation or so ago, as first-time fryers frequently overloaded their outdoor containers, causing hot oil to spill or ignite when it hit a propane burner.
So given the extraordinary drought conditions and elevated fire risk in New Jersey as Thanksgiving approaches, and with firefighters battling wildfires across the state, we felt it reasonable to ask if it was safe — or even legal — to fire up your backyard deep-fryer for the holiday?
Jeffrey Paul, director of the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, said the law says you can do it, but for Pete’s sake, “safety first!”
“The issue of frying turkeys as we get closer to Thanksgiving is not restricted since the cooking is done with propane and not an open burn,” Paul said. “This, however, does not mean that anyone frying a turkey should not be using extreme caution.”
Deep-fried turkey dangers
Even during normal weather conditions, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries in the United States, and the top two days cooking fires start are Thanksgiving and the day before, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
An estimated 1,160 home cooking fires were reported to officials across the country on Thanksgiving Day 2021, a 297% increase over the daily average, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association. That year, emergency personnel responded to about 170,000 home cooking fires nationally, according to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
With an elevated fire risk during a record period of drought, New Jersey firefighters are hoping for a break and a quiet holiday, free of alarms.
“As you are well aware, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service as well as our mutual aid coordinators and fire departments throughout Morris County and throughout New Jersey have been extremely busy fighting wild land fires and the fire risk still remains high,” Paul said. “All warnings, precautions and restrictions remain in place.”
Deep-fried turkey directives
To that end, Paul offers the following tips for a safe and succulent Thanksgiving:
- Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors, a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials. “The location where you choose to cook the turkey should be free of anything that has the potential to burn,” Paul said.
- Never use turkey fryers under an overhang, in a garage or on a wooden deck.
- Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce the likelihood of accidental tipping.
- Safety first!
New Jersey
Spring’s coming; Sunny, warm Saturday and significant warm-up ahead NJ
A brief respite from cold weather is ahead of New Jersey this weekend, before temperatures continue to rise late next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Saturday, Feb. 28 will be sunny across the Garden State, and temperatures will be comfortable, reaching the high 40s and low 50s.
Then, a brief artic cold front is expected to move into the region late on Saturday night, bringing temps to low 30’s and some scattered snow showers on Sunday, especially in North Jersey.
During the week, a couple low pressure systems are in the NWS forecast. Little snow if any is expected from these systems, especially in the late week, when a significant warm-up is expected.
Asbury Park and Monmouth County weekend weather forecast
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Sunday: Partly sunny and a chance of snow before 1 p.m. The high should be near 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Wildwoods and Atlantic County weather forecast
Saturday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Sunday: Partly sunny and a slight chance of rain before 1 p.m. The high should be near 44. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.
Newark and Essex County weather forecast
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 32.
Sunday: Cloudy and scattered snow showers before 1 p.m. Then gradual clearing of skies, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.
Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today Network. Find him on Twitter at _JCCastillo.
New Jersey
Winning numbers drawn in Thursday’s New Jersey Pick 6 Double Play
The winning numbers in Thursday’s drawing of the “New Jersey Pick 6 Double Play” game were:
8, 23, 29, 34, 43, 45
(eight, twenty-three, twenty-nine, thirty-four, forty-three, forty-five)
For more lottery results, go to Jackpot.com | Order Lottery Tickets
New Jersey
San Diego Wave FC Unveils “Balboa Park Kit”: New Community Jersey for 2026 Season – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club
Wave FC introduce all-new community kit inspired by San Diego’s Historic Balboa Park
Since 1868, Balboa Park has served as the city’s creative commons. Spanning 1,200 acres, the park is home to world-class museums, performing arts institutions, community gathering spaces, and everyday moments that define life in San Diego, from pickup soccer games to family picnics and cultural celebrations. Larger than New York’s Central Park and Chicago’s Millennium Park combined, Balboa Park represents the depth, diversity, and creative energy of the region.
Designed in collaboration with Nike, the bespoke kit draws the park’s historic architecture and vibrant tilework. The sleeve cuffs and collar feature the vibrant colors of pink, orange and blue, and patterns from Balboa Park’s tilework, translating architectural detail into wearable design.
Kaiser Permanente, who continues to serve as the official team physicians of Wave FC, is proudly featured on the front of the Balboa Park Kit for the fifth consecutive season. Additionally, San Diego based global leader in glucose management, Dexcom, the Club’s official glucose biosensing partner, is returning for the third year and will be featured on the right sleeve. The Club’s pride mark, a compass symbolizing direction, unity and purpose, is displayed on the lower left corner of the new jersey.
To celebrate the launch, San Diego Wave FC will host its 2026 Jersey Launch Event, presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey, tonight, February 26, at Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park, from 4-8 p.m. PT. The free, public event, will feature live entertainment, exclusive access to the Balboa Kit, giveaways, a Fifth Season museum experience, and community activations spotlighting leaders and organizations from across Balboa Park cultural community.
As part of the event, a portion of proceeds from the Balboa Park Kit will be donated to Forever Balboa Park, supporting the preservation, accessibility, and future of the park for generations to come. Fans can donate directly to Forever Balboa Park here. The San Diego Museum of Art will provide a complimentary gift to all Season Ticket Members at gift pickup for fans to use throughout the museum’s Centennial Celebration. Wave FC players will be in attendance throughout the evening, connecting the fans and celebrating the launch alongside the community.
Fans who purchase a Balboa Park Kit at the event or online on the day of launch will receive an exclusive Fifth Anniversary patch, commemorating the Club’s fifth season.
The Balboa Park Kit joins the Altamar Kit as part of San Diego’s full 2026 jersey collection and is now available here. Fans can select “pick up at event” for an expedited entry line at the Balboa Park event.
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