Firefighters urge caution in winter

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - With temperatures dipping and many New Mexicans turning up the heat indoors, the Albuquerque Fire Department shared tips to help prevent disasters.

Many of their tips seem to be commonsense items, but, according to Melissa Romero with the fire department, it's important that homeowners remember to be vigilant.

"It's super important," she said. "There's 4,000 deaths per year in America, along with 20,000 people who are injured by fires. Eighty-two percent of all fires are caused in the home."

Among the recommendations: check your smoke alarms and replace the batteries twice a year. An easy way to remember is to do it when you change your clocks for daylight-saving time, which this year ends a week from Sunday.

Also, Romero said, you should have your chimney inspected and cleaned by certified chimney sweepers.

Those who use portable heaters should keep it three feet from anything, including furniture, curtains, paper and people. They should also inspect the cords on heaters, replacing any heater that has a frayed cord, and not use extension cords with heaters.

Also, heaters should carry an Underwriters Laboratories label.

And, as holidays approach, you should check your decoration lights for bare wires or bad connections.

A full list of safety tips is available on KRQE.com. Look in the sidebar on this page.