The state fire marshal is urging Michigan residents to be mindful of fire safety while cooking this Thanksgiving.

He says portable propane fueled turkey fryers a popular and faster cooking method for your Thanksgiving turkey pose a considerable fire risk if not used correctly. Improperly deep-frying turkeys accounts for many preventable house and garage fires reported each year.

You should never use a portable deep fryer in a garage, on or under a deck, breezeway, porch or inside any structure and always use a flat surface away from flammable materials.

The fire marshal also encourages you to push the button to check and make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.