Although careless cooking and improper disposal of smoking materials are the most-cited causes of fires by the National Fire Protection Agency, city fire officials remind residents to observe winter-related safety precautions.

Fire-medical officials recommend stocking up on furnace filters and changing them often and to also remove any flammable materials and chemicals from areas near the furnace.

Meanwhile, Black Hills Energy, which serves 62 communities in the state, recommends having an annual professional inspection of home heating systems and appliances. It’s also not a bad idea to replace smoke detector and carbon monoxide monitor batteries.