With the low temperature tonight (December 24, 2020) expected to drop to around 15 degrees on the plateau and the upper teens to lower 20’s in the valley, fire officials want to pass on safety tips for staying warm:

• Always use working smoke alarms in your home. If you need working smoke alarms, contact your local fire department and ask if they participate in the “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” free smoke alarm program
• Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment, like a furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Install wood burning stoves following manufacturer’s instructions or have a professional do the installation.
• If you have a fireplace, make sure it has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.