With one fatality and other homes and buildings damaged by fire, local fire officials are warning residents that winter can bring its own dangers.

“Winter is definitely a more dangerous time of year for home owners,” said Interim Fire Chief Michael Hackney of Cullman Fire and Rescue. “Between heating and decorations there’s just more opportunities for things to go wrong.”

According to Hackney, elements such as uncleaned heating units and improperly installed Christmas lighting could ruin the holiday season for some if certain precautions are not taken.

For starters, Hackney said homeowners should make sure that they use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors.

“You don’t want to use outdoor lights in your house because they get too hot and may catch your tree or something else on fire, and indoor lights should not go outside because the moisture may short them out,” he said.

Hackney also warned that another cause of holiday fires was overloaded electrical circuits. With so many extra plugs around, circuits can be overloaded, heating-up enough to cause a fire, he said.

Other possible sources of fire include stockings hung to close to the fire, animals chewing on wires and improper care of live trees.

Hackney said homeowners should make sure all of their lights and extension cords are Underwriter Laboratory or UL approved. He said UL is a company that tests electrical products for safety. Approved electrical devices can be identified by a “UL” symbol on the packaging, he said.

People who use live Christmas trees should be extra cautious. According to Hackney, dried out trees combined with electrical holiday decorations cause many fires at Christmas time.

He advised residents to re-cut the end of the tree just before putting it in the stand.

“That will ensure that it gets plenty of water,” he said. “Your tree should drink about one gallon a day.”

Hackney also warned that tree shoppers should check to see if a tree is too dry before they buy it.

“If you run your fingers over the branches and a lot of needles fall off, it’s probably been on the lot too long,” he said.

For heating safety, Hackney said homeowners should have their chimneys, fireplaces and furnaces inspected and cleaned each fall before use.

He said gas heating sources can usually be inspected by gas providers. Problems to look for include leaking at the lines and dirty surfaces around flames and pilot lights.

Propane and natural gas leaks are usually accompanied by a distinct methane smell. Homeowners should leave the premises immediately if they suspect a gas leak. They should not use any electrical appliances, including the telephone. Use a neighbors phone to call the fire department.

For electric heat, he said homeowners should stay home when they first turn the heat on.

While dust can build-up on electrical heating elements, it is usually not enough to catch fire, he said. However, it is best to stay on the side of caution.

For space heaters, Hackney said the biggest issue is that the device has proper clearance from flammable materials like curtains and furniture.

He also said to make sure the device was not overloading the electrical circuit.

Above all, Hackney said portable kerosene heaters represented the most potential for danger.

“Kerosene heaters can be very dangerous to homeowners,” he said. “People try to fill them inside their homes, and it’s hard to get enough ventilation for them.”

As a rule of thumb, Hackney said if residents can smell kerosene; it’s probably not ventilated enough.

“There’s just a lot of problems with them,” he said. “I simply wouldn’t recommend putting kerosene heat in a residence, period.”

In addition to heat and decorations, Hackney said many holiday fires result from cooking accidents. He warned residents not to leave their stoves and ovens unattended.

Cullman County’s latest fire fatality was on Dec. 2, when Aaron Thornton, 76, died in a fire at his home at 320 County Road 632 in Phelan.