MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Fire Department worked to put out a fire that destroyed a man's home in Whitehaven on Thursday morning. Now, they have tips on how to keep your family safe during the cold months. As MFD worked to extinguish the fire in the 4900 block of Hodge Road, we spoke to the homeowner. He said he was trying to turn his gas fireplace on when a fire started in the chimney. “They over time will build up creosote and that is very flammable. So now is a great time to start having those chimneys inspected," said Brent Perkins with the Shelby County Fire Department. “Get those chimneys cleaned out and get them swept." The homeowner, a friend, and his dog were inside the house at the time of the fire. They are all expected to be okay.  📡 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Perkins also said that if you are going to use a space heater, "make sure it’s got good functioning tip switches. So, if they get knocked over they shut off. Do not use multiple outlet extensions." Always make sure the space heater is three feet away from everything.  Perkins says time is the most important factor when it comes to flames. “Once a fire has started and has burned for seven minutes, every minute after that it’s going to double in size. So, the minute you think you have an emergency, that’s the time to call 911," he said.  Perkins also mentioned that you should make sure the batteries in your smoke detector are working. If you need a smoke detector, you can request one for free at any time with the Memphis Fire Department.