As you prepare your Thanksgiving meal, keep fire safety in mind. Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The association and South County Fire offer the following safety tips to help avoid a Thanksgiving fire:

– Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.

– Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check it frequently.

– Keep children away from the hot stove. Involve children in activities and Thanksgiving recipe preparations that can be done outside the kitchen.

– Keep matches and utility lighters out of reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.

– Never leave children alone in a room with lit candles. Place any lit candles out of reach of children and away from combustible materials such as decorations or curtains.

– Turkey fryers pose many dangers. Hot oil can splash or spill, resulting in serious burns or injuries. Fryers on stands can tip or collapse, causing hot oil to spill. When oil is heated above its cooking temperature, its vapors can ignite. The safety risks are so great that NFPA discourages use of outdoor, gas-fueled, hot-oil fryers. If you prefer fried turkey, consider purchasing pre-cooked fried turkey from a restaurant, specialty food retailer or grocery or consider using a new type of “oil-less” turkey fryer.

Make sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms.

South County Fire is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical services in Snohomish County, serving more than 250,000 residents in unincorporated communities and the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.