NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — Keeping your home warm and safe — that's what Minot fire officials hope you do as the winter months are quickly approaching. With temperatures dropping and more folks relying on furnaces and heaters, fires can sometimes start in the home. According to the North Dakota Insurance Department, 781 structure fires were reported last year in the state with estimated losses amounting to $33 million. Minot fire inspector Stuart Hammer says the first thing to do before it gets cold is to get your household appliances checked. "I suggest they have their heating appliances, furnaces checked. A lot of the installers have maintenance programs that you can enroll in and have them checked every fall before the heating season starts. And making sure everything is running efficiently, making sure there's no gas leaks, and make sure everything is working as it should," said Hammer. Bob Kuch, exceptional hatter and hat wearer Hammer says one in every seven home fires is started by heating equipment, such as furnaces, and they can turn deadly when blockages aren't taken care of. "During the winter, when snow is blowing, the inlet can get blocked with ice and cause your furnace to run less efficiently, so your home could be cooled off. Checking those, making sure they're running properly. If the vent gets blocked, you can have your home fill up with carbon monoxide," said Hammer. Other heating appliances, like space heaters that have coils, are another potential fire risk because they get so hot to the touch. "The coils can run anywhere from 500 to 1,800 degrees when they're going red it runs off of electrical resistance, and so keeping those in safe areas, keeping them away from combustibles. Keep them away from areas where children or pets might be running around, could tip it over," said Hammer. However, Hammer says with the holidays fast approaching, and more people spending time in the kitchen, folks need to be alert while cooking. "If you're not using the stove or not a part of the cooking, by all means, keep everything that doesn't need to be there, away from there. And that's another one, Thanksgiving is coming up, number one day for cooking fires in the United States," said Hammer. For more information about fire safety and carbon monoxide detection click here. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW