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Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. As you stay cozy and warm thiswinter season, be fire smart! Half of all home fires occur in the winter months of December, January and February. Here are some winter fire safety tips: Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away as possible from your house. Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month. Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year. Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container, and keep it outside at least 10feet from your home and any nearby buildings. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, or space heaters. Heating equipment is involved in in every1 6 reported home fires and 1 in every 5 home fire deaths. Plug only one heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time. As always, test your smoke detectors monthly, and have your family practice an escape plan, knowing two ways out. Establish a family meeting place outside of the home. Make sure your house numbers are visible from the roadway, in case the fire department needs to locate you in an emergency. If you have a fire, get out and stay out! For more information, go to www.nfpa.org.