Red Cross Urges Public to Take Winter Heating Safety Steps and Install Smoke Alarms

After responding to a half dozen home fires in just a couple of weeks, the Red Cross has released information to help residents become more aware of safety in their homes.

The Red Cross says nearly half of American families use alternative heating sources such as space heaters, fireplaces, or wood/coal stoves to stay warm this time of year. Fixed and portable space heaters, including wood stoves are a leading cause of home fires, and are involved in 74-percent of fire related deaths. Carbon monoxide is also a killer, and each year over 200 people die from carbon monoxide produced by fuel bu...