It is easy to get careless when you’ve been celebrating a little too much, or tired from preparing a large meal for the holidays.

This especially goes for pets who are able to jump onto the counter and potentially knock a pan off the stove, which could lead to serious burns or even start a fire. It is easy to trip over them if you don’t realize they are there. Keep pets out of the kitchen while cooking. Be sure to set a timer when you have dishes in the oven so you don’t forget to remove them when ready. Regularly check on food you have simmering or slow cooking. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking, and keep a close eye on any food that you are frying, boiling, or grilling. Here are five basic tips for avoiding cooking fires in your home:

To avoid home fires that could lead to costly homeowners insurance claims or injuries to you or loved ones, check out these cooking safety tips from Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation: Each year, more than 2,500 people perish and 12,600 are injured in home fires in the United States, with direct property loss due to home fires estimated at $7.3 billion annually, according to. Awareness about potential fire hazards and taking simple precautions in the kitchen can go a long way toward keeping your home fire-free. Most home fires occur while cooking in the kitchen and are the leading cause of injuries from fire. Food is a great way to bring people together, and cooking at home is something that many of us do on a daily basis.

Lighthouse kitchen timer