Each winter, when falling temperatures bring people indoors and space heaters out of storage, the Bowling Green Fire Department sees an uptick in home-heating fires.

Marlee Boenig, the department’s spokeswoman, said her department isn’t alone, but something that fire departments experience across the nation.

“December, January and February are the peak months for heating fires,” she said. “It could be a space heater. It could be a fireplace, any kind of portable heater (or) wood stove.”

Indeed, half of home-heating equipment fires are reported during those months, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Given that, Boenig stresses the importance of education and easy-to-adopt behaviors that can keep people safe.

The first part of that is learning how to safely use heating equipment, Boenig said.

Most people understand the dangers of using a stove unsafely, but heating equipment is also a leading cause of home fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

“Cooking is the leading cause of home fires all year round and then heating is the second-leading cause,” Boenig said.

Because of that, Boenig recommends keeping a 36-inch clearance around heating sources. That means being mindful of where furniture is placed and avoiding using heaters to dry clothing or wearing baggy clothing around heaters, she said.

As more people light up their fireplaces, she urges regular chimney maintenance and cleaning.

“Because of that poor maintenance, you (can) have a fire,” she said.

Homeowners should contact professionals to regularly check their HVAC system and chimney, which Boenig said can build up creosote, a highly flammable byproduct created by repeated fireplace use.

“The maintenance of those appliances is so important,” she said.

When using liquid fuel, Boenig suggests getting a carbon monoxide detector. Likewise, smoke alarms should be checked once a month and have their batteries replaced every six months.

Generally, it’s always important to have an escape plan in place should a fire occur.

Outside of heating fires, hoarding can also make it difficult for firefighters to rescue fire victims, Boenig said.

When cooking, Boenig recommends always setting a timer to act as a reminder after leaving the room. Stove handles should also be turned away from the edge of stove, and children should be kept 3 feet away from stoves.

“I call that the no-kids zone,” she said.

Although the risk factors might seem obvious, Boenig said that over the years she’s often seen people forget the little things, including fires triggered by people covering or blocking heaters they thought were switched off.

“People do become complacent about fire safety,” she said, crediting it to the incredulous attitude people have about house fires. “They just don’t think what they’re doing is dangerous, and they don’t think it will happen to them.”