As families prepare to gather around and cook Thanksgiving feasts, fire officials are reminding people about crucial cooking safety tips and fire prevention pointers.

Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires and injuries in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The holiday has three times as many cooking fires compared to an average day

In total, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an estimated 1,400 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2019, the association reported.

For residents to enjoy a safe and happy Thanksgiving, the Greeley Fire Department shared cooking fire facts and safety tips from a National Fire Protection Association safety sheet on social media.

The leading cause of kitchen fires occur from unattended cooking, according to the sheet. Most fires in the home involve the kitchen stove.

Greeley fire officials advise people to "Cook with Caution" this year. The department recommends the following:

  • Always be on alert while cooking. The stove should never be used by a person who has been consuming alcohol or feeling drowsy.
  • Stay in the kitchen when food is being fried, broiled, grilled or boiled. Always turn the stove off even if someone leaves the kitchen unattended for a short amount of time.
  • Regularly check on food that is simmering, baking or roasting. People should remain in the home while food is cooking and set timers as a reminder that food is cooking.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, towels, food packaging, curtains and wooden utensils — away from the stovetop.

Cooking caused 42% of home fire injuries and was the second leading cause of home fire deaths in 2015-2019, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

To protect children from the hazards of a kitchen and prevent injuries from occurring on Thanksgiving Day, families should:

  • Keep children at least 3 feet away from the stove.
  • Keep children away from hot foods and liquids that can cause serious burns from steam or splashes.
  • Keep knives out of reach from children.
  • Make sure electric cords dangling off the counter are not in reach of kids.
  • Keep matches and lighters up high and out of reach of children. Children should never be alone in a room with a lit candle.
  • Make sure the floor is clear in the kitchen so kids don't trip over anything.

If a small grease fire breaks out, the safety sheet recommends those who decide to fight the fire to smother the flames on the stovetop by sliding a lid over the pan and turning the burner off. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

If it's an oven fire, turn the heat off and keep the oven door closed.

If there are any doubts about fighting a small fire, the next steps to take involve evacuating the residence, according to the department. Once everyone is outside of the home, close the door to help contain the fire and call 911.