With temperatures dropping to at or below freezing at night in the listening area starting this Friday night (November 1, 2019), local fire officials want to pass on safety tips while 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 the 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.
• Make sure the fireplace 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.