There are more fires during the winter months than any other time of the year, according to the United States Fire Administration.

“People frequently choose alternative sources of heating, such as kerosene heaters, woodburning stoves and space heaters, because of the rising cost of heating fuels and utilities. These alternative sources can cause devastating and potentially fatal fires when used improperly,” said Roy L. Marshall, director of the Residential Fire Safety Institute.

As the temperature outside gets cooler, National Fire Safety Month in October is the perfect opportunity to examine your family’s fire safety plan. Tyco Fire & Building Products offers these life-saving fire safety tips for the winter months:

• Inspect your home’s heating system, whether it is a furnace, kerosene heater, woodburning stove or other system, and make sure it is in good working condition.
• Every level of your home needs to have a properly working smoke alarm; install a smoke alarm in every bedroom, if possible.
• Never use fuel-burning appliances without proper ventilation – they produce toxic gasses such as carbon monoxide.
• Have a fire escape plan in place with two exit routes, and practice it at least once a month with your family.
• Keep flammable materials away from open flames, and make sure that all heat sources have the proper guards installed to prevent burns.
• Stay low in the event of a fire — the poisonous gasses produced in a fire are often the cause of death, not the fire itself.
• Install residential fire sprinklers in your home for the ultimate in property protection and life safety; sprinklers are the only proven home fire safety system that suppresses fire.