As temperatures are decreasing this November, Iowans may be compelled to plug in their space heaters for additional warmth, though they can be a danger for lives and homes.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) from 2009-2013 an estimated 56,000 U.S. home structure fires were caused by heating equipment, with 470 deaths, 1,490 injuries, and $1 billion in property damage.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen advises on how to prevent home fires, “If you use a space heater you should use an electric one with an automatic shutoff, keep everything three feet away from curtains and anything that could potentially catch fire. On that note, make sure your smoke detectors are working and have a fire extinguisher because winter is one of the worst times for house fires, mostly because of space heaters that short out or have some kind of fault.”

The NFPA states that space heaters, whether portable or stationary, account for two of every five home heating fires and four out of five home heating deaths.