I love crockpots/slow cookers, and yes they are extremely safe, Dottyg. As long as you keep it in good condition and there's no issues with the cord, it shouldn't be a fire hazard. I generally leave my crockpot going during the day when I'm at work. The only problem I've had with not enough water was a gooey mess that needed to be soaked for a couple of days before scraping it out.