St. Johns Michigan Fire Department issued the following announcement on Jan 11.
Did you know that heating is the second leading cause of home fires?
Stay safe during the winter with these tips:
• Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.
• Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, or space heaters.
• Plug only one heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
• Never use an oven to heat your home.
• Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Original source can be found here.