Check out these Holiday cooking tips by your Fire Department

Almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries are caused by cooking. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, the day before Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas Eve, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

“It’s important to remain mindful of ways to cook safely, even if you’re cooking for fewer people than in years past,” Shrewsbury Fire Chief Vuona said in a statement.

For that reason, the Shrewsbury Fire Department provided the community with safety tips to ensure neighbors stay safe while baking and preparing their holiday meals over the coming weeks:

• 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 three 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 (eg. 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.

The Shrewsbury Post recommends you to contact the Shrewsbury Fire Department at 508-841-8522 for any additional information regarding cooking safety. In case of an emergency, call 911.