With cooler fall weather arriving and families soon beginning to use fireplaces, furnaces and space heaters, the American Red Cross is reminding Chattooga County residents to take some simple steps that could prevent a home fire or save a life.

Fire Prevention Week is being observed October 4 through October 10, and the American Red Cross of Georgia says its disaster teams have responded to more than 1,835 fires across the state since the beginning of 2026.

Home fires remain among the most common disasters to which the Red Cross responds.

One of the most important recommendations is having a household escape plan. The Red Cross warns that residents may have less than two minutes to escape a burning home.

Every member of the household should know at least two ways out of each room and families should select a designated meeting location outside the home. Fire escape plans should be practiced at least twice each year.

Working smoke alarms are another important line of defense. The Red Cross says smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half.

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries should be replaced when required by the manufacturer.

Residents should also check the age of their smoke alarms. Alarms that are 10 years old or older should generally be replaced because their sensors become less sensitive over time.

Cooking remains the leading cause of home fires in the United States. Residents are urged never to leave cooking food unattended and to keep towels, potholders, packaging and other combustible materials away from stovetops and ovens.

With colder weather approaching, heating equipment is another concern.

The Red Cross recommends keeping at least three feet of clearance around space heaters and other heating equipment. Space heaters should be placed on hard, level, nonflammable surfaces and should never be left operating unattended.

Space heaters should also be plugged directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord and should always be turned off before leaving a room or going to sleep.

Fireplaces should never be left unattended, and residents should make certain embers are extinguished before leaving home or going to bed.

Families are also reminded that if a fire does occur, the priority is to get out, stay out and call 911. Residents should never return to a burning home to retrieve belongings.

The Georgia Red Cross says residents who cannot afford smoke alarms or who are physically unable to install them may be eligible for assistance through the organization’s Home Fire Campaign.