As the days get shorter, the nights get longer....

....and that means that we start lighting up our homes earlier and earlier, culminating with the greatest lighting exhibition of the year between Thanksgiving and New Year Day, which also happens to be the time of the year when a great many home fires occur since it's also the heating season and a lot of cooking gets done for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and those New Year's Day football games.

The National Fire Protection Association ranks cooking as the #1 cause of home fires, which surprised me since I don't cook. I knew that cigarettes, candles, heating equipment, and extension cords were high on the list. Let's take a look at cooking, though, and what we can do to prevent cooking fires:

1. A major cause is simply the lack of cleanliness. Not only can a heave accumulation of grease catch on fire, but it creates a health hazard since all sorts of bacteria and other micro-organisms live in the grease. Clean the air filter on your range hood, the surfaces of your range, microwave, and nearby cabinets, drawers, and countertops.
2. Don't wear clothes with loose-fitting sleeves or roll the sleeves up when cooking, especially with an open-flame gas appliance.
3. Paper towels, hot pads, towels, and curtains at that kitchen window should be kept well away from hot surfaces.
4. San Diego Gas & Electric recommends having all gas-using appliances inspected annually to help prevent gas leaks or other problems. I suspect yours does, too.
5. Many people install microwaves above the range and below the cabinet. Sometimes, though, it doesn't leave enough clearance between the bottom of the microwave and the top of the burners, causing heat damage to the bottom of the microwave and forcing you to reach over hot pots or burners to get to those rear burners. If you don't think you have enough clearance, you probably don't. Move the microwave, get a different microwave, or have the microwave raised.
6. If a fire starts in your microwave, do not open the door. Instead, unplug the microwave and the fire should go out on its own due to lack of oxygen. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen, though, that is ready to use and call the fire department if there is any doubt.
7. The same goes for a fire in your oven. Keep the door closed and turn off the heat.
8. If you ever have a grease fire in a pot or pan, you can usually snuff it out by carefully sliding a lid over the pan. Make sure you turn the burner of and resist moving the pot or pan to the sink. Just leave it alone until the pan cools. Baking soda is also a great way to suff out a grease fire. Whatever you do, never ever throw water on a grease fire because the grease will splatter and possibly cause the fire to spread.