FORT MYERS, Fla - Cooking dinner sparked a house fire Sunday afternoon.

It happened on Montilla Drive in Whiskey Creek.

Firefighters say the family was deep-frying a turkey outside when it caught fire and spread to the home.

The house has about $50,000 dollars worth of damage.

"The fire got into the house and has done some extensive damage to the house," said Barry Ashman, Battalion Chief of the Iona-McGregor Fire District.

Inside the house were children, their parents and the family cat.

The children and their parents were able to get out safely, but firefighters had to rescue the black cat from a back room.

Ashman says these types of fires are common this time of year when people fry turkeys for Thanksgiving, but says it can be avoided.

For instance in Sunday's fire, the family fried the turkey only two feet away from the home, Ashman says you need to be much further.

"Anytime you are using a turkey fryer or a grill you should be a least 20 feet from the structure," he said.

Here are some other safety tips:

-keep an eye on the frying turkey at all times.

-don't overfill the fryer.

-keep a fire extinguisher nearby

-never use water to put out a grease fire.