REDDING, Calif. — Temperatures are dropping in the Upstate, so the risk of a fire in your home increases.

According to the United States Fire AdministrationRegardless of the season, house fires occur most often in winter. Additionally, their representatives stated that December, January and February are the months when half of all home heating fires occur.

Sarah Roth, fire prevention specialist with the Redding Fire Department, told KRCR the problem also exists locally.

“In the winter, certainly (house fires are) common for a multitude of reasons,” Roth said. “Whether it’s people just starting to use their radiators again at this time of year or their candles – it’s very common – so be careful and carry out these checks of your appliances and wiring , making sure they are up to date and still functional. order is important.

One tip to avoid a fire is, when using fireplaces or heaters, to ensure there is a safe distance around the appliances. Roth also said you should plug a heater directly into an outlet and not into an extension cord when using it.

As people put up Christmas decorations, she told us it’s safest to always unplug those lights before leaving the house or going to bed.

Roth added that people can protect their homes by “having their chimney swept first – chimney fires are very common – as well as disposing of their ashes properly, making sure they are fresh and completely out when they throw them outside the perimeter of the house.” House.”