Mayor Steve Noble and the Kingston Fire Department want your Thanksgiving to be a safe one, so they’ve offered some tips to keep things injury-free on Thursday.

Thanksgiving, according to the KFD, is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve rank second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average. Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires. Cooking causes half of all reported home fires and more than two of every five home fire injuries, and it’s the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

Thanksgiving safety tips:

Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
Keep children at least three feet from the stove. The stove will be hot.
Make sure children stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
Keep knives out of the reach of children.
Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.

Christmas/Hanukkah safety tips:

Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over gifts, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
When you purchase a live tree, make sure it’s fresh. Needles should be green and springy to the touch.
Cut one to two inches off the bottom of the trunk before placing the tree in the stand, which allows the tree to absorb water. Place the tree in water right away.
Fill the tree stand with water every day.
Make sure the tree is at least three feet from any heat source: vents, fireplaces, radiators, candles, or lamps.
Make sure your tree is not blocking an exit.
Always turn the tree lights off or unplug them before going to bed or leaving your home.
Use lights that are approved by a national testing organization like UL.
Replace lights that have worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands you can safely connect.
Make sure you’re using the right lights for indoors or outdoors.
Remove your tree immediately after the holidays even if you think it is not dry.

“With the holiday season upon us, the Kingston Fire Department urges all our residents to be vigilant and take extra precautions this time of year,” Chief Chris Rea stated. “The Fire Department is here for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — we are just three minutes away. I am asking you to call 911 immediately if you think you have a problem. Far too often people wait or aren’t sure whether to ‘bother’ us. Please bother us! That’s what we’re here for. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.”