Officials share safety tips by heating their home

Floyd County, KY. (WYMT) - Officials send us important information about the safety of your home during the winter season.

Smoke detectors save lives.

"Anyone who goes to bed at night should have a smoke alarm," said William Petry of the Kentucky State Police Station, extension. 09th

This is something that many of us have, but you need to check the batteries frequently.

"Everyone should have a smoke alarm that works, is relatively new and not outdated, and the batteries should be replaced," Petry said.

The authorities said the timetable change was a good reminder.

"If you change them while changing the clock, you know when to change the batteries in your smoke detector," said Petry.

The fire chief of Prestonsburg, Michael Brown, said the statistics speak for themselves.

"Of five lethal fires in homes, three have no working smoke detectors," Brown said.

Even when temperatures drop, some comfort is near a fire or booster heater.

"Winter is when you use more heat and have different sources," Brown said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association , heating systems are the second leading cause of residential fires in the US and the third leading cause of deadly fires.

"If you're burning wood in a fireplace, make sure you burn dry and dry wood," Brown said. He further explained that it is also important to have a fire extinguisher nearby.

Turning off the chimney before leaving the room and cleaning the chimney can also reduce your risk.

"Even if you go to bed and think the fire is small enough to cause no problem, there's always something that can do," Brown said.

More safety tips from the American Red Cross can be found here .

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