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When heating homes, please do so safely

With the coldest air we’ve yet experienced this winter forecasted to be on the way this weekend, many people will undoubtedly be desperate to keep their homes warm.

That usually leads to dangerous decisions that can ultimately end up with fire damaging or destroying buildings.

The American Red Cross has released several tips for people to safely warm their residences during dangerously cold temperatures.

¯ All heaters need space. Keep children, pets and things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.

¯ Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.

¯ Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

¯ Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

¯ Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces and chimneys inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.

¯ If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and non-flammable surface (such as a ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.

The Red Cross also recommends basic fire prevention tips like installing and maintaining working smoke alarms on every level of the home and inside all sleeping areas, teaching children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one, and have everyone in the house know at least two ways to escape from every room and where to meet once outside.

According to the Red Cross, heating equipment is the second-leading cause of home fires and is responsible for 19 percent of all home fire deaths.

No building can be immune from fire, but by taking these steps, the risk can be minimized.

We hope everyone is safely able to keep their homes warm as the thermometer dips down near or below zero.

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