Help keep you and your family safe during cold weather with these safety tips from the Forsyth County Fire Department.

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Follow manufacturers’ recommendations regarding where and how to use any heating devices.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like a furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
• Never place heaters on tables or furniture.
• Avoid using extension cords for heaters if possible.
• Do not use unvented gas heaters in enclosed spaces due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Remember to turn portable space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least three feet from your home.
• Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and near each bedroom.
• Have working carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home.
• In case of emergency, dial 911.