In the winter, heating and cooking are the most common causes of fires at home. Fires usually start when towels, paper, or clothing are too close to candles, the stove or fireplace. Space heaters can also start fires when left too close to furniture, curtains, or clothing. Fireplaces help heat the house, but if the chimney isn’t clean, dangerous fires can start. Have an expert check the chimney each year to be sure it is safe. To protect your family, buy and install smoke alarms. Most fire deaths happen in homes without smoke detectors with fresh batteries to sound an alarm when fire starts.