The Seattle Fire Department released a list of reminders on staying safe and preventing kitchen fires while cooking at home.

Here are their tips, from the Fire Line blog:

Recent Seattle home fires caused by unattended cooking are reminders about the precautions all people who use a stove should take before turning on a burner.

Cooking-related fires are the number one cause of home fires.

Safety Precautions

• Do not leave cooking unattended on the stove. A serious fire can start in just seconds.

• Keep the stove and oven clean. Butter, oil and other greasy foods left on the stove can catch fire.

• Keep children and pets away from the stove while cooking.

• Keep items that can catch fire, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, at least three feet away from the range top.

• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home. Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house.

If a fire starts in a pan, turn off the stove and carefully cover the pan with a lid or another pan. Do not move it until it is cool.

And finally, use timers when cooking and make sure your smoke alarms work.