MACON, Ga. — As you warm up your home this winter, the Macon-Bibb Fire Department is asking people to be careful with space heaters.
"We get a tremendous amount of fires due to the improper use of space heaters this time of year," Fire Safety Education Officer Jeremy Webb said.
Webb said space heaters need at least three feet of clearance from things like beds, furniture, and curtains.
He recommends turning them off overnight and when you leave the house.
If you're shopping for a new one, Webb said it's important to look for one with protective safety features.
Many space heaters these days will automatically shut off if they get tipped over.
Webb said it's also important to only plug space heaters into wall sockets. Extension cords could be dangerous because they're not designed to handle the heater.
"If you use maybe a gas heater, make sure you inspect that gas heater for leaks and things like that. It's very important to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Especially if you're using some type of gas fire and appliance in the home," Webb said.
Along with carbon monoxide alarms, Webb said every home should also have a working fire alarm and fire safety plan.
He said you should never heat your home using an oven.
Macon-Bibb Fire Department has a Fire Prevention Line if you'd like help building a fire escape plan, or if you'd like a free fire alarm or fire alarm test.
You can call their number at 478-751-2700 to speak with the fire department about that.