Worries North Yorkshire residents may seek dangerous alternatives in heating homes
The Fire and Rescue Service is issuing advice ahead of winter
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service say they are worried people may seek dangerous alternatives in heating their homes this winter.
It is issuing safety advice because of the rising cost of living and energy bills and it is anticipating an increase in call-outs.
Adam Farrow, Prevention Watch Manager, said: "Typically as the months get colder, more so into early next year, we do see a spike in chimney fires. With the rising cost of living and fuel security and fuel poverty we're anticipating maybe a few more different types of incidents this year.
"Potentially fires from different fuel sources, experimental ways of heating a property or rooms and unfortunately as well there's been a couple of national cases where people have tampered with energy supplies and created an unsafe situation.
"A study that was done by the University of York says that the potential scale of the issue could be up to 15 million households nationwide, and unfortunately that adversely affects a certain number of groups the most so a couple with more than four children, a lone parent and anyone who's of pensionable age.
"If you're buying any new devices like a heater make sure you're buying from a recognised manufacturer. Try and not buy second-hand. Any new electrical appliances that might be more efficient, register them online. If you have any open fire or multi-fuel stoves make sure your chimney is swept.
"If you're going to start using candles, make sure you don't leave them unattended, don't leave them near young children or pets in the house. Be sensible about the placement, don't put them near anything that's combustible and keep an eye on them, try not and forget about them because they can cause - and have caused - quite substantial fires in the past."
There is more advice on North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue's website.