Cooking is a leading cause of fire within the Marysville Fire District, and the risk goes up around the holidays.

Did you know Thanksgiving Day is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires? The biggest factor in these fires is unattended cooking, which has caused devastation in our own community. Food left on the stove sparked an October fire that caused $60,000 in damage to a home on Marine Drive NE and a June fire that damaged an apartment on 73rd Place NE. With a little extra attention and knowledge, you can help prevent fires this holiday season.

Here's a recipe to keep your family safer:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking.

• If you are baking or roasting food, stay inside your home and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• If you decide to fight a small grease fire on your stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. NEVER POUR WATER ON A GREASE FIRE.

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.

• If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire, just get out and call 911.

• Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, etc.) away from your stovetop.

• The Marysville Fire District does not recommend using oil-based turkey fryers due to the significant risk for injuries and fires.