With Thanksgiving and the holiday season now here, it’s time to review some safety tips to prevent fires inside the home.

Jefferson Fire Chief Jack Williams says when cooking in the kitchen and using the stove or oven, make sure any flammable materials are away from those appliances. He talks about another common incident that can cause a fire in the kitchen.

“When you’re cooking with grease make sure that you have a box of baking soda somewhere close or a fire extinguisher preferably. Then do not shoot the fire extinguisher straight into the fire, shoot it above so it drops down in without actually spreading the fire.”

Williams also suggests for those using electricity for holiday decorations to only use one power extension bar per outlet to minimize a potential fire situation.

“And then don’t fill every slot in there. They’re not intended to pull that many amps. So just keep in mind (to) use good, quality drop cords, if you’re using them, and don’t use the ones that have three or four plug-ins on the end because they’re just not made for that kind of amp-pulling.”

Williams reminds everyone to make sure that their filters have been changed in their furnaces, as that is the most common way homes can start on fire.