With Thanksgiving just days away, the American Red Cross is reminding families to stay safe in the kitchen. Thanksgiving and the day before are the top two days of the year for home cooking fires in the U.S. Cooking is responsible for more than 158,000 home fires each year, about 44 percent of all home fires nationwide.

The Red Cross says most cooking fires happen because food is left unattended, and they’re urging everyone to stay close to the stove while preparing their holiday meals.

They’re offering several safety reminders: stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food… use a timer… avoid loose clothing while cooking… keep kids and pets at least three feet away from hot surfaces… and keep anything that can burn away from the stove. They also recommend cleaning cooking surfaces regularly, keeping a fire extinguisher on hand, and double-checking that all appliances are turned off before going to bed or leaving home.

The Red Cross is also stressing the importance of working smoke alarms. Families should have alarms near the kitchen, on every level of the home, and inside and outside bedrooms. They recommend testing alarms monthly and changing the batteries at least once a year. For households that can’t afford smoke alarms or can’t install them, the Red Cross may be able to help.

Red Cross volunteers have been busy locally as well. In the past week, they responded to eight home fires in Sorento, Louisville, Virden, Gillespie, Carlinville, Centralia, Walnut Hill, and Springfield. Volunteers assisted 20 people, including families and children, providing emergency supplies, emotional support, health services, and help securing temporary shelter. They’ll continue working with those families as they recover.