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The Red Cross is urging mid-central Pennsylvania homeowners to review safe means of heating their homes amid an "alarming rate of home fires."
The agency has responded to eight home fires in January 2022, which resulted in it helping 22 individuals with emergency lodging, financial assistance and recovery planning after home fires.
That dwarfs July 2021's numbers of one reported home fire and 10 individuals helped.
More than half of people have used a space heater, which is involved in most fatal home heating fires.
"Provide at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and never leave space heaters unattended," the Red Cross advises.
Additionally, homeowners suggest placing space heaters on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, like a ceramic tile floor. Additionally, plug space heater power cords directly into outlets, and avoid extension cords, which turning space heaters off when not attended, including when asleep.
Aside from space heaters, the Red Cross also recommends never using a cooking range or oven to heat a home.
Additionally, never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
Finally, the Red Cross recommends having furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves annually inspected by a professional, and cleaned, if necessary.
Hope Roaten, the executive director of the American Red Cross Mid-Central Pennsylvania Chapter, advised homeowners to have a plan for escape.
"Take time to discuss your home fire escape plan with everyone in your household and practice it at least twice a year," Roaten said.
The Red Cross advised homeowners to practice that plan until everyone in the household can escape in less than two minutes -- the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it is too late.
In addition to practicing home escape plans, the Red Cross advised homeowners to test smoke alarms monthly to have advance notice in the case of a fire.
Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires, according to a recent release by the Red Cross.