Area families are investing in geothermal heat pumps and solar heating, while others are converting to coal or wood-burning furnaces and pellet stoves. Still others are planning to use less expensive space heaters to cut what seems to be relentless increases in the cost of fuel oil.

Regardless of the home heating source, both Mr. Owens and Mr. Heberling stressed the need to use common sense first. Begin by winterizing your home with caulk and weather-stripping, and add insulation, if needed. Even more important is the need to have the furnace serviced and the flue cleaned. Not only will the furnace be more efficient - saving you money - but it will also help protect the family from flue and furnace fires.

If you plan to supplement home heating by using a space heater, there are many different kinds available, and each involve different precautions. Mr. Owens suggested some simple and effective tips to keep area families both safe and warm using small, unvented space heaters. "If a family plans to use a kerosene heater, they need to begin by having it inspected, followed by installing a new or clean wick," Mr. Owens said. "Once it is lit, an adult should simply adjust the wick for an even burn."

Be careful of carbon monoxide produced by unvented space heaters. To prevent a problem, keep the doors to the room open so there is good ventilation throughout the home. This will also help with proper combustion and fuel efficiency. Since these heaters get hot, it's very important to keep them away from everything. Portable propane heaters need to be treated similarly. "Think first; use common sense and take it outside before filling it and never, ever, fill it while it is lit," Mr. Owens stressed, adding, "Wipe off any spilled fuel before lighting the heater, then turn the wick so you have a lower flame for a more even, efficient heat."

Electric heaters come with a different checklist. Ed Heberling, president of the Clearfield Volunteer Fire Department, suggested that a home's wiring should be first on this list. "Make sure the outlet and plug do not get hot. If they do, it is a sign of electrical arching, which will start a fire," Mr. Heberling said. "Be sure to check the fuses and circuit breakers, along with just how many other items draw power from the same fuse or circuit breaker. Sometimes, more than one room or area of a home is linked to the same circuit, and with today's high use of electrical appliances, computers, TVs, hair dryers, etc., it is easy for a circuit to become overloaded. Use an appropriate extension cord with an electric heater, and check the outlet and plug routinely. Be safe and change them when necessary."

There are also some universal suggestions for using space heaters safely, beginning with turning it off before sleeping, not putting the heater close to a sleeping person and never placing it in a child's room. Whether or not there are kids or pets in the home, be sure the space heater turns off if it tips or overheats.

Unvented heaters need to have an oxygen depletion sensor to shut it off if the oxygen level drops too low. All of these heaters need to be on hard, nonflammable surfaces well away from rugs, furniture, drapes and bedding.

Many families in the area like to use a fireplace, a wood burner or an outside furnace. If this is the case, both Mr. Owens and Mr. Heberling stressed the need to check the flue first. A lot of homes in the area are older so they do not have flues with liners, and most of these flues are made from brick and mortar and located in the center of the home.

Regardless of the flue's location, they make contact with surrounding wood and building materials, increasing the importance of making sure the flue is clean and free of debris or cracks. Debris inside a flue will catch fire and the cracks direct both the heat and fire to the adjacent structure.

Concerning materials, what is burned in a fireplace or wood burner can have big impact on safety and the potential for fire. "Stick to hardwoods, avoiding pine and poplar by using maple and oak to keep the flue free of tar, which can cause a fire," Mr. Owens suggested. "Never burn garbage, newspaper or cardboard because they can quickly cause a fire. For safety and to keep sparks and logs inside the firebox, use a metal screen. If you have to leave the house, make sure the fire is out before you leave, and it's also a good idea to bank off a wood burner before leaving."

Both men stressed that no matter what the alternative source of heat is, be sure to follow the manufacturers' recommendations and actually read the manual before using it.

Adding both carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms throughout your home, especially near the bedrooms and furnace, is a must. If these alarms are in place, but not hard wired, check the batteries now and change them, if necessary. "Be sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand for an emergency and know how to use it," both men said at almost the same time.

If a fire occurs or you suspect there is a fire because you can see or smell smoke, call for help immediately. Also, be prepared before disaster strikes. Mr. Owens suggested making sure that there are two ways out of each room - through a door or a window.

Have a plan to safely get out of the home and a place to meet. When 911 is called, be ready to tell emergency personnel how many people are in the house, how old they are, where they are in the house and if any residents have handicaps. Help children understand what to do by practicing home fire drills. Also, stress the importance of not hiding or going back inside once outside. Explain to the kids that the fire personnel may be wearing oxygen masks or other equipment that may look frightening, but the firemen are there to help and they should not be afraid of them.

If you can't escape the house, stuff something under the door to keep out smoke. Be prepared to give responding fire personnel a floor plan of the home, along with where the electrical panel, fuel and water shutoff values, furnace and flue are located. For area businesses, it is important that emergency responders have a floor plan on file so a response can be preplanned. It is also important for fire personnel to have a list of key holders to minimize delays in responding to business fires. "Most important is just slowing down and thinking when a fire occurs," Mr. Owens said.

More information can be found online at University of Maine Cooperative Extension Home Heating Alternatives, www.umext.maine.edu/energy/homeheat.htm ; the U.S. Department of Energy, www.energy.gov ; and at Energy Savers, a government-sponsored resource on how to save energy, www.energysavers.gov .