Here are tips for holiday cooking safety

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is urging everyone to use caution while cooking during the holiday season. There were 706 cooking-related fires during November and December in 2016.

Here are some tips from the commissioner:

▪ Always set a timer when cooking so you do not forget to turn off the burners or oven.

▪ If a pan catches fire, cover it with a lid immediately and turn off the burner. Do not fight a grease fire with water.

▪ Wear tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. If clothing does catch on fire, remember “stop, drop and roll.” Stop where you are, cover your face with your hands and roll over to smother the flames.

▪ Never use a cooking stove to heat your home.

▪ Install an adequate number of smoke alarms.

▪ Each household should have a well-rehearsed family escape plan.

▪ Have a fire extinguisher readily available.

This story was originally published December 20, 2017 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Here are tips for holiday cooking safety."