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With a cold front moving in this weekend, the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas is urging families to take steps to heat their homes safely. Home fires make up most of the more than 60,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to each year, and those numbers rise sharply during colder months. Disaster Action Teams in Kansas and Oklahoma saw fire responses increase from once every six and a half hours in October, to once every five hours in November. So far this month, they are responding about every three and a half hours.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that space heaters are the leading cause of home heating fires. If you use one, never leave it unattended. Place it on a flat, nonflammable surface like tile, and keep it away from rugs, bedding, and curtains. Plug heaters directly into wall outlets and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children, pets, and anything that can burn at least three feet from heating equipment. Never use an oven to heat your home, and never leave a fireplace unattended.