SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The American Red Cross advises to “be cautious in the kitchen” over the holidays. As the turkey is roasting, and other deluxe holiday dishes are being prepared, house fires can flare up.

According to the United States Fire Administration, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Even with all the holiday festivities, every person should take the time to ensure that fire safety guidelines are being followed.

According to statistics from the American Red Cross, house fires usually occur when food that is being cooked is not being carefully monitored. Every home should have at least one responsible adult who makes sure that all burners, fryers, ovens, toasters, grills or crock pots are turned off.

Timers also come in handy to time the meal and keep food from burning. Any flammable food preparation items, such as kitchen towels, pot holders or paper items should be kept at least three feet away from cooking sources, according to the American Red Cross.

“We’ve been to a couple of turkey fires,” Spanish Fort Fire Chief Roger Few said.

People may be deep frying turkeys and should not place cookers on combustible surfaces such as wooden decks. The preferable placement is on a concrete surface, Few said. He also advises that cooks make sure they don’t place too much oil in the frying bowl before they place the turkey in because of possible overflow of oil.

Fill the bowl with water first to get the correct measurement of how much oil to put in. If people fry the turkey out in the yard and the oil catches fire, there is a risk you could set the yard on fire too, Few said.

In addition to fried turkeys, some cooks like to prepare smoked turkey and smokers can sometimes overheat.

Having a fire extinguisher readily available in the kitchen is another safety tip, Few said. Clean counters frequently to prevent grease build-up. If a fire extinguisher isn’t handy, use baking soda to put out the fire in a frying pan, but avoid using flour as it can intensify the fire or cover the pan with a lid and remove it from the heat.

Heat cooking oil gradually to keep it from splattering, according to the USFA, and never use your oven or range to heat your home.

Many homes fill up with out-of-town guests and visiting relatives and friends. Before a crowd comes, check your smoke alarms. Smoke alarms need to be checked every month to make sure they are in good working order, as it reduces your chances of dying in a fire by half, according to SFSA. For smokers, make sure all smoking materials are extinguished.

Though holiday decorations and candles help provide a festive mood, precautions should be taken to make sure they are used safely.