This is the time of year for cooking and eating wonderful things, such as the feast with all the trimmings that is the focal point of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

And while Navy Region Northwest Firefighters are looking forward to sharing the holiday meal with their own families, they are reminding residents to be extra careful as nearly 50 percent of all house fires across the nation start in the kitchen.

“Care should always be taken while working in the kitchen,” Says Navy Region Northwest Fire Department’s Fire Inspector DiGiovanni, “but people should be extra vigilant around the holidays.

“Preparing the Thanksgiving meal often is a group project, with many people in the kitchen to help with the chores. And where there’s a crowd and noisy chatter, there’s a greater chance for an accident to occur.”

In an effort to ensure all Navy and DOD personnel have a happy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday; Navy Region Northwest firefighters offer the following kitchen safety tips:

Make sure your cooking appliances are in good working order.

Start your holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven. Make sure any old grease or food spills are cleaned up to lessen the chance of a flare-up.

Keep kitchen clutter and loose clothing away from stove burners.

Turn pot handles in toward the rear of the stove, out of your child’s reach. If the handles are allowed to stick out over the stove, they could be grabbed by a child, spilling their hot contents and causing burns.

NEVER leave cooking food unattended.

If the contents in a pot or pan catch fire, do not touch or try to move the pot or pan as you may spread the fire or burn yourself. Extinguish the flames with a metal lid or larger pot.

Never use water on a grease fire. Extinguish the flames with a metal lid or larger pot.

Use potholders to prevent burns. If you are burned, do not use ice, butter or other substance on the burn. Ice can damage the skin, and butter or other substances can trap the heat in. Instead, let the burn cool off under a steady stream of cool tap water and seek medical assistance if necessary.

Keep holiday decorations away from heat sources such as stoves, candles or heaters.

In the event of a fire or medical emergency, always call 911.

Further holiday safety and year-round fire prevention tips may be obtained by calling the Fire Prevention Division of the Navy Region Northwest Fire Department at: Bremerton (360) 476-3124, Bangor (360) 396-5777, NUWC Keyport (360)-396-2614, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (360) 257-1496, Naval Station Everett (425) 304-3086.