DAVIESS COUNTY, KY (WFIE) -
The state Fire Marshal of Kentucky is asking residents to perform some safety checks on their home heating appliances.
Officials say heating equipment is actually one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter.
To help protect your home, here are a few tips and checks that you can do yourself.
If you haven't done it already, get those inspections for your furnace, chimneys, and vents scheduled as soon as possible.
It's always good to have a professional check these at least once a year.
Make sure any wood in your fireplace is dry, seasoned wood.
Your fireplace screen should be metal or heat-tempered glass and secured firmly.
If you've got kids, take some time to go through your house with them and explain the dangers of fire places and space heaters if they're not careful.
This is something that's good to do all year round, but use this as an opportunity to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they're working, too.
For even more tips and suggestions, click here.
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