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With two major fires this week in Freeborn County, we are reminded of the increased fire risk that comes during winter.

While the causes of the fires in both Freeborn and Albert Lea have not yet been determined, it is a good reminder of extra precautions we should all take, especially during winter when people are indoors more.

According to the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, most home fires occur in the winter and peak in January. Most Minnesota heating fires occur in fireplaces and chimneys.

People should have their home’s heating systems and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually, and wood stoves should be properly installed and ventilated.

If people choose to use portable heaters to supplement the heat in their homes, it is critical to do so with safety in mind.

According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, portable heaters should be kept three feet from anything that can start on fire like furniture or blankets.

Space heaters should always be plugged directly into outlets and never be plugged into an extension cord. They should also never be used to dry wet items and should be turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep.

People should stay in the kitchen when cooking and remember if you leave the room, you should turn off the stove and move the pan from the burner.

Anything that can burn, including oven mitts, towels and wooden spoons, should be kept three feet from the stove.

The Fire Marshal’s Office states the leading cause of structure fires in Minnesota each year typically is tied to cooking, and there are an average of 120 residential fires each year in Minnesota caused by unattended cooking.

If a fire starts, slide a tight-fitting lid on the pan and turn off the heat.

If you smoke, the easiest thing you can do to avoid starting a fire in your home is to smoke outside and then discard cigarettes in a deep, sturdy ashtray filled with sand or water.

Lastly, if you use candles, the Fire Marshal’s Office suggests choosing flameless candles instead of traditional ones, as they can come in scented varieties and have the same flicker effect as real candles.

Candles should be kept in a sturdy container that cannot be tipped over.

People should extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep and use flashlights instead of candles in the event of an emergency for lighting.

The Fire Marshal’s Office states candles and open flames are the third-leading cause of structure fires in Minnesota.

The Fire Marshal’s Office suggests testing smoke alarms monthly with batteries being changed out at least once a year. All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the house. Alarms should be placed on the ceiling — if they are placed on the wall, they should be no more than 12 inches below the ceiling.

These tips are a start to keeping you and your families safe, and we hope you will take them seriously, particularly during the next couple months.