(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The men and women of the fire department may be nice people, but you probably do not want them as guests for Thanksgiving dinner.
Once a fire starts, you have about two minutes to get out, according to the American Red Cross. That’s why it's important to keep some simple safety tips in mind.
-Keep children and pets away from the stove.
-Don’t wear loose, long sleeves at the stove.
-Have a pan lid or cookie sheet available to smother a fire.
-Test your smoke detector before cooking.
“We respond to about 60,000 disasters across the nation each year," said Mara Thompson, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross in Illinois.
"A majority of those are home fires, and a majority of home fires start in the kitchen."
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