NU Online News Service, Nov. 23, 9:08 a.m. EST

Turkey fryer fires are serious business and William Shatner has a few less arm hairs to prove it.

State Farm has teamed with the television and movie star to create a “docudrama,” which follows Shatner's tumultuous relationship with a turkey fryer—a short-lived affair.

Nevertheless, Shatner turned his heartache into a lesson from which we can all benefit during this holiday season.

“Fire, metal, oil and turkey are glorious when in harmony,” says Shatner with the kind of dramatic pause only he can deliver, “but their power is unrelenting in careless hands.”

The Bloomington, Ill.-based insurer is clearly hoping a bit of humor and star-power gets across a serious message, and it is using a clever social media-driven campaign to spread the word and offer instructions to avoid disaster.

The fact is the popularity of frying a turkey for Thanksgiving has increased. Therefore, risks of property damage and serious injury have increased.

According to sources cited by State Farm, fire departments in the U.S. respond to more than 1,000 deep fryer-related fires each year. Such fires result in more than $15 million in property damage each year.

State Farm says, from 2005-2010, Texas has generated the most grease and cooking-related claims (36) on Thanksgiving Day.

Rounding out the top 10 are Illinois (24), Ohio (21), New York and Pennsylvania (17), Michigan (15), Florida and Minnesota (14), Indiana (13), and Louisiana (12).

Special Reports /

State Farm and Shatner: Live Long and Don't Hurt Yourself Frying a Turkey

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