LOUISVILLE,. Ky — Cold weather is in the forecast leading up to Christmas, meaning people are doing whatever they can to stay warm. But you want to be sure you’re doing so safely. 

Jordan Youdis, Public Information Officer for Anchorage Middleton Fire and EMS, says year after year space heaters used improperly can quickly lead to trouble. 

“Often times, we see a space heater knocked over and the next thing you know it ignites something and then we have some type of fire,” Youdis said. 

Youdis recommends not plugging space heaters into a power strip or having it too close to flammable objects like curtains.   

Something else to look out for is a dry Christmas tree. Make sure you are keeping it watered. 

Youdis adds that generators should never be used indoors as they could lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide. 

With the approaching cold, people who are houseless may light fires to stay warm, but this can be dangerous. 

“We see often times people in abandoned buildings lighting a fire to stay warm, so we are trying to prevent those types of things so for those folks that are houseless we would of course encourage them to go to a local shelter,” Youdis said. 

Several shelters in Louisville take part in Operation White Flag. When the wind chill is below 35 degrees or the heat index is over 95 degrees, shelters open their doors to those needing a warm place to stay.