A firefighter breaks through a side roof as crews work the scene of a house fire in the 800 block of Alabama Street on Tuesday night.

Winter brings more house fires than any other season. Last week alone, there were three home fires in Lawrence.

The good news is that residents can prevent fires by taking a few precautions, especially in the coldest, driest time of the year, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical public education specialist Richard Bull said. Winter structure fires have less to do with the weather and more to do with five mistakes people make between December and March, Bull said

1. Improper use of supplemental heating devices

Items such as space heaters can cause fires when used around flammable material, Bull said.

“Space heaters should be three feet away from anything flammable,” Bull said. “Put it on a kitchen floor away from carpeting or other items.”

Don’t use space heaters for longer than the time recommended by the manufacturer, and don’t plug them into overloaded sockets.

“Space heaters draw a lot of amperage. Only plug one thing into the outlet it’s using,” Bull said. “They’re not made to be plugged in every day, all day.”

2. Improper use of holiday decorations

Though it may be difficult to pack up that holiday cheer, Bull said holiday decorations are prone to cause fires and should be put away as soon as possible.

“The sooner you remove Christmas décor, the better,” Bull said. “The lights are not made for long-term use.”

“Forty percent of Christmas tree fires happen in January,” Bull said. “The trees get dried out and become more flammable.”

3. Improper use of candles

Bull said it’s surprisingly common to have fires caused by a scented candle burning out of control.

“People have a tendency to light candles in bedrooms with flammable sheets and curtains,” Bull said. “Be responsible and put them out before you go to bed.”

4. Hoarding

A cluttered home isn’t just an eyesore — it can jeopardize your safety. Piles of items strewn about can be a fire hazard, Bull said.

“It gives more fuel for the fire,” Bull said.

5. Dirty chimneys

Bull said it’s imperative to clean out your chimney.

“Unburned material from the wood can travel up to the top in the smoke and get stuck,” Bull said. “If it gets too hot, it can catch on fire.”

Home improvement stores sell brushes for cleaning chimneys, he said.

Another fireplace hazard is using too much wood, causing flames to grow too high, Bull said.

Be sure you properly dispose of fireplace ash — in a metal container away from the home — because it can smolder and cause a fire even after the fire appears to be out, Bull said.

“Think of fire as being a living, breathing thing,” Bull said. “That makes it easier to think about being mindful about it.”