According to a recent survey by the Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association, nearly half of all U.S. households are planning to use space heaters, stoves, ovens, fireplaces and other alternative sources to heat their homes because of the rising cost of fuel. Because cooking and heating are the leading cause of home fires, the Red Cross is asking people to take special precautions this winter.

Safety tips include: Staying in the kitchen while cooking, making sure space heaters are 3 feet from anything flammable and are turned off when leaving a room, and installing smoke alarms on every level of your home.

About 36 percent of people with fireplaces responded in the survey that they never clean or inspect their chimneys. It also found that 23 percent of respondents didn't think it was important to have someone home when food is cooking on a stove.

Last year, the Utah chapter of the Red Cross responded to 138 disasters and helped more than 203 families.

Results of the survey were released Tuesday and coincide with Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11. The telephone survey of 1,003 adults was conducted by Caravan in September.

- Jason Bergreen