Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. As you stay cozy and warm this winter season, be fire smart!

Following are a few tips to help keep you and your family safe during this deep freeze:

-- Half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January and February.

-- Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away as possible from your home.

-- Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.

-- Heating equipment is involved in 1 in every 7 reported home fires and 1 in every 5 home fire deaths.

-- 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 10 feet from your home and any nearby buildings.

-- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, or space heaters.

-- Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.

For more information on how to prevent winter fires, visit www.usfa.fema.gov/winter and www.nfpa.org/winter