Winter brings special challenges to area firefighters. Randy Tisor has been with the Washington Fire Department for 28 years. He says that chimney fires tend to be a problem this time of year, and urges listeners with chimneys to keep them free of creosote. Having a professional clean the chimney is a good idea, he adds. Outbuildings that house animals are also problematic, in that people use heat lamps and space heaters to keep animals warm in colder months. He says that it is best to keep any combustibles far away from such heat sources, and to not plug too many appliances into a cord, and to not use very long cords.