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In Dowagiac, Mich., last week, an 8-year-old and his 12-year-old brother were killed in a house fire.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials believe at least one of the smoke detectors in the house had no batteries in it.
That story was enough to prompt local fire officials to remind the public about fire safety in the home.
"It always takes a tragedy like that to make us think, 'Maybe it will happen to us,'" said Warsaw Fire Department Chief Matt Warren.
We as humans, he said, often get too complacent and think a fire can never to happen to us, so we overload extension cords, let candles burn without being in the room or don't check the batteries in smoke detectors.
Now that the cold weather is here and expected to be settling in for some weeks, heating systems in homes will be taxed. People will bring their kerosene heaters out of the closet or from the garage and use them, which could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The winter months appear to be the worst time of the year because homes are more closed up and because heating and electrical systems are operating longer and more often. People may use their fireplaces more and not think about safety. In one case, Warren said, a person threw their fireplace ashes into a cardboard box, causing fire.
"We as humans need to think better - instead of 'It can't happen to me' to 'It can happen to me.'"
It's always the little things, Warren said, that can lead to tragedy. "Big fires start small, and that's very true," he said, recalling a theme from fire prevention week about two years ago.
One of the best ways to help prevent fires and/or injuries and death from fires is having working smoke detectors in the home. Carbon monoxide detectors also are very important, Warren said.
The code now is to have a minimum of one smoke detector in every sleeping room. As far as placement goes, Warren said, there should be one detector on every floor in the house.
"A smoke detector is a cheap life insurance policy," he said. The county now has a program in place where fire officials give away smoke detectors. "In this day and age, there is no reason for any one to not have one."
The program, he said, is a proactive approach to fire prevention.
The smoke detectors should be checked weekly and batteries changed yearly at least. New smoke detectors should be purchased every 10 years, though sooner is better because of improved technology. "They're a mechanical device," said Warren. "They will get old and need replaced."
Other advice Warren offered to prevent household fires included watching the use of extension cords, don't let candles burn unattended and keep lighters and matches away from children. Educate your children on fire safety.
"In our opinion ... lighters and matches are the same thing as a loaded gun," Warren said. A parent wouldn't want their child to play with the gun, nor should they let them play with lighters and matches.
As for extension cords, they can get very hot. So hot, in fact, Warren said, they have been known to burn carpet. For equipment such as computers, he said, people should use surge protectors, not extension cords.
"I hate extension cords," he said.
Space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from all walls and combustibles. Follow instructions when using them.
As for wood burners, Warren said, people should make sure they are installed properly.
"People just need to think."
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, Warren said, are similar to the flu. He said to prevent that, residents should make sure to check their gas stoves and ovens for leaks. They should not be used for extra heating of the home. A home's heating system should be checked at least once or twice a year. They are manmade objects and will break, Warren said, so having them professionally checked is important.
