SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Chief Steven Pinch and the Union Fire District of South Kingstown would like to provide safety tips to ensure residents stay safe while baking and preparing their holiday meals over the coming days and weeks.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, the day before Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas Eve.

“Safety should be the number one concern among residents this holiday season,” Chief Pinch said. “The holidays can be a very busy and stressful time so we are asking residents to review the following holiday cooking tips so they can keep their families safe from injuries and their home safe from a fire emergency.”

To prevent any seasonal cooking home fires, the Union Fire District wishes to share the following tips from the NFPA so families can prepare holiday meals without the risk of tragedy:

• Never leave anything cooking unattended.
• Stay home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
• Keep children and pets away from the stove. Kids and pets should be kept 3 feet away from the stove.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee can cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Keep the kitchen and dining room floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags while cooking or handling food.
• Test your smoke alarms and make sure their batteries are replaced if needed.

If you have any questions about cooking safety, please contact the Union Fire District at 401-789-8354.