Valentine’s Day is coming up, and we’re all excited for our romantic dates with that special someone. Perhaps you’re cooking one of your favorite gourmet meals in order to impress your significant other. This could be quite a romantic scenario, or it could end in disaster. Kitchen fires are one of the most common types of fires in the household. Here are a few quick tips on how to prevent kitchen fires this Valentine’s Day.

1. Stay in the kitchen. It is easy to get distracted and to leave your food cooking on the stove. However, unattended cooking food is one of the most common causes of kitchen fires. Stay by your pan and watch it.
2. Be careful of your clothing. If you’re wearing a shirt with long sleeves, a baggy shirt, or even an apron, it could catch on fire. Make sure to tuck in any baggy clothing or just wear a more tightly fitted shirt.
3. Have a fire extinguisher handy. Even though you’ve probably never used it, it’s definitely important to have. Make sure to check that your fire extinguisher is working and is not outdated. Also be sure to know how to use it if you need to.
4. Make sure your smoke detector works. It’s not enough to have a smoke detector; it also needs to be in working order. Check your smoke detector twice a year to be sure it functions properly.
5. Extinguish candles. As soon as you are done with your candle-lit dinner, extinguish the candles. Candles can cause kitchen fires when they tip over or reach the bottom of the wick.

This Valentine’s Day, make sure the heat is between you and your partner, not because of a kitchen fire. Follow these tips to make sure you have a completely romantic and fire-less Valentine’s Day.