 Every winter we see an increased number of house fires we respond to and most of these could have been prevented. There are a few simple steps you can take to keep your family safe during the cooler months. Never leave cooking unattended and always supervise children around cooking. Fully extinguish fires and turn off heaters before you go to sleep or leave the house. Never leave devices on or charging on soft surfaces like sofas or beds. Finally make sure all electrical items like heaters and cooking equipment are in good working order. Should a fire occur make sure you and your household have a well-prepared escape plan so you know what to do when a smoke alarm sounds. And for the best chance of any early detection and escape we recommend installing interconnected smoke alarms in all living and sleeping areas. For more information on preparing your home for fire visit the CFA website.