Local fire officials say portable heaters are common sights during cold weather months, but they can sometimes lead to tragedy. That’s why it’s crucial that you and your loved ones follow all safety regulations for portable space heaters.

Here are some tips for portable heaters:

• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave a room.
• Never under any circumstances should you use your oven to heat your home!
• Keep anything that can burn, including bedding, clothing, curtains, pets, and people, at least three feet away from portable heaters.
• Only use portable heaters with an automatic shut-off so that if they tip over, they will shut off.
• Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
• Check the cord for fraying, and cracking and look for broken wires or signs of overheating in the device.
• Never run the heater cord (or any cord) under rugs or carpeting.