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Will the NJ drought cancel your deep-fried turkey tradition? We asked and found out

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Will the NJ drought cancel your deep-fried turkey tradition? We asked and found out



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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!”

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“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.

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“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!



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New Jersey

Red Flag Warning returns today for NYC area. Map shows greatest fire risk.

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Red Flag Warning returns today for NYC area. Map shows greatest fire risk.


NEW YORK — A Red Flag Warning is back in effect for much of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Tuesday, as gusty winds return to the forecast, along with the risk of wildfires.

After achieving record-setting warmth at a few locations Monday, temperatures will struggle to reach the mid 50s, retreating back to what’s consider normal. Paired with gusty winds, this will make it feel even cooler, so be sure to dress warm.

Map shows Red Flag Warning for Tri-State Area

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A Red Flag Warning is back in effect for New York, Connecticut and northeastern New Jersey.

CBS News New York

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Unfortunately, with the leaves and brush rapidly drying out, fire spread will be a greater concern Tuesday. 

The Red Flag Warning has been issued from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for New York City, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, northeast New Jersey and southwest Connecticut. 

The National Weather Service centers in New York and New Jersey put out a joint statement, reading in part, “Due to the combination of gusty winds and marginal relative humidity values, these conditions could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control.”

Dry, windy conditions fueling recent fires

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Firefighters have been battling the wildfire at the border of New Jersey and New York all weekend.

CBS News New York

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The combination of dry and windy conditions have been fueling brush fires, like one that broke out last weekend in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

It has also made it more difficult for the firefighters working to contain the Jennings Creek wildfire burning through 5,000 acres on the New York-New Jersey border near Greenwood Lake. 

“Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Be sure to properly extinguish or dispose of any potential ignition sources, including smoking materials such as cigarette butts,” the National Weather Service joint statement continued.   

Drought stretches into another week

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CBS News New York

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While the area received a little rainfall Sunday into Monday, it has been more than a month without a soaking rain, and drought conditions persist across the Northeast.

The winds will keep up Tuesday night, as temperatures go down to the 30s and 20s. Crisp sunshine will dominate Wednesday, with temperatures running even colder. Thankfully, the winds won’t be quite as strong, but do expect an elevated fire risk once again.

Thursday will likely be the coldest day of the week, with highs only in the 40s. While we expect more cloud cover that day, the wet weather will probably miss us to the south and west.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is scheduled to visit the site of the deadly Jennings Creek wildfire Tuesday and deliver remarks. Watch live around 1:15 p.m. on CBS News New York

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Veterans’ homelessness is at the center of a new initiative in N.J. Here’s more on “Bringing Veterans Home.”

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Veterans’ homelessness is at the center of a new initiative in N.J. Here’s more on “Bringing Veterans Home.”


Veterans’ homelessness is at the center of a new initiative in New Jersey

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Veterans’ homelessness is at the center of a new initiative in New Jersey

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HOLMDEL, N.J. — New Jersey leaders on Monday launched a new initiative that aims to eliminate homelessness for veterans.

It’s an attempt to curb a major problem in the Garden State.

Acting Gov. Way touts “Bringing Veterans Home” initiative

At a Veterans Day ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Museum in Holmdel, Acting Gov. Tahesha Way announced the new initiative called “Bringing Veterans Home.”

“It will place more than 1,000 homeless New Jersey veterans in stable housing over the next two years. So, yes and amen,” Way said.

The program will team veteran service groups up with the state to begin outreach in early 2025.

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“It is important that those who sacrifice so much for their fellow Americans never go without secure and stable shelter,” Way said.

“It’s a first step. That’s all it is”

Officials have allocated nearly $31 million in state and federal funding to pay for this initiative and estimate there are 1,164 homeless veterans in New Jersey.

“I’m really, really scandalized that the government hasn’t done more to take care of these people from the time they came home,” Vietnam veteran Allen Rothman said.

Rothman, who is a volunteer tour guide at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Museum, said the new initiative is a long-overdue step forward to protect those who protected us.

“It’s a first step. That’s all it is. There’s still got to be a lot more done,” Rothman said.

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New Jersey

News Wrap: Crews battle New Jersey brush fires fueled by bone-dry conditions

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News Wrap: Crews battle New Jersey brush fires fueled by bone-dry conditions


In our news wrap Monday, crews are battling blazes on both coasts as brush fires have broken out around New Jersey fueled by bone-dry conditions, larger wildfires rage in California though crews are making progress, Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces are holding back enemy troops in Russia’s Kursk region and Haiti’s international airport shut down after gangs opened fire at a flight trying to land.



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