The kitchen has long been called the heart of the home. At the end of a long day, few things give us greater satisfaction than sitting down to a hot, delicious, home cooked meal. With recent limitations in dining out, more of us are reaching for our own cookware, trying new recipes, and firing up the cook-top on our ranges. As much pleasure and satisfaction as we derive from our time spent in the kitchen whipping up meals, there is also a need for caution. Cook-tops are the most common equipment involved in home cooking fires, causing 49% of home fires that resulted in 21% of the home fire deaths and 45% of the injuries. The American Red Cross statistics show us that unattended cooking causes nearly 90 percent of all kitchen fires. Elliot F. Kaye, commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, tells Consumer Reports that “unattended cooking is the top cause of fires in the home,” as well as being the leading cause of fire-related injuries. Being prepared for safety in the kitchen cuts down on accidental burns and cooking fires. What to do if there is a fire? If it is small and contained in the pot or pan, cover it with a lid, turn off the heat, and let the fire extinguish itself. If the fire is larger than that, it is best not to take matters into your own hands. ORR Safety, leading maker of PPE and safety equipment, says to get out of the house. Taking matters into your own hands can make matters worse: Three out of five people who were injured during cooking fires were injured while trying to fight the fire themselves. Make sure everyone exits the house, close the door behind you, and call 9-1-1 and/or your local emergency number.