More home fires occur during winter than any other season, with half of all home heating fires happening in the months of December, January and February. According to the State Fire Marshal, heating equipment is involved in one in every six reported home fires and one in every five home fire deaths. Iowans are reminded to kepe anything that can burn at least three feet away from any heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators or space heaters.

Also, remember to check for working smoke alarms. Last year in Iowa, properly working smoke detectors saved 112 lives and in 2012 217 lives were saved.

This year across the state 35 people have died in fires, up from 25 last year.