$4 Million Home Destroyed in Turkey Frying Mishap

WESTON, CT – A Thanksgiving turkey frying accident left a $4 million Weston home uninhabitable after a fire broke out in the garage and quickly engulfed the residence.

Weston firefighters were dispatched to 40 Weston Road at 3:42 p.m. on Nov. 28 after receiving reports of a garage fire. Upon arrival, responders found flames rapidly spreading into the house. Crews attempted an aggressive attack but were hindered by structural collapse and dangerous conditions, according to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department.

A preliminary investigation suggests the fire began while residents attempted to deep-fry a turkey in the garage. No injuries were reported, but the 11-bedroom, 9.5-bathroom home has been declared uninhabitable. Crews remained on-site for over 16 hours extinguishing flames and overhauling the structure.

Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Westport, Wilton, Redding, Georgetown, Easton, and others, as well as Weston EMS and police. Additional support came from the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Weston Public Works.

During the incident, a vehicle drove over the water supply hose on Weston Road, briefly disrupting firefighting efforts, the department reported.

Cooking fires surge on Thanksgiving Day, increasing threefold compared to the daily average, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. Experts, including the U.S. Fire Administration, warn against frying turkeys indoors or near structures.

“Frozen turkeys will explode when put into hot oil,” Deputy Chief Lenny Wishart of New Haven stated. “Make sure it’s fully thawed.”