OHIO — As temperatures are expected to dip below freezing in the next couple days, there’s no better place than inside your heated home, perhaps with a cup of hot chocolate.

The Lakewood Fire Department has released a checklist for how to keep your home warm and safe during the colder times of the year. Their tips include:

• Ensure your furnace has been inspected and serviced within the last year.

• Ensure your chimney and vents have been cleaned and inspected, as fires can be caused by built up creosote.

• If you have a fireplace, make sure you use dry, seasoned wood.

• Make sure the screen for your fireplace is made of good-condition metal or heat-tempered glass and is positioned securely.

• Keep children a minimum of three feet away from fireplaces, stoves and space heaters.

• If you’re using a space heater, ensure it has an automatic shut-off.

• Space heaters should not be plugged into a power strip or extension cord and should be spaced three feet or more away from flammable material.

• Make sure all smoke alarms are tested and are in working order.

• Carbon monoxide alarms should also be tested.

Spectrum News 1 will continue to provide winter weather updates and forecasts throughout the winter months.