By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

With more home fires happening during the winter months, the American Red Cross is giving people home fire preparedness tips.

The American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign is a nationwide initiative to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent by the end of 2019. Six ways to stay safe during the winter season is to install smoke alarms, test the batteries in your alarms once a month, create an escape plan, keep children, pets and flammable items at least three feet from heating equipment, use gas wisely and use flashlights instead of candles.

For more information, visit redcross.org.