On January 26th, the Guilderland Fire Department issued a winter safety reminder focusing on the proper usage of space heaters in homes. Portable heaters, according to department officials, are a typical cause of winter fires when positioned too close to combustible materials or operated incorrectly. Fire officials advise keeping space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable and placing them on stable, flat surfaces away from walkways. Heaters should be plugged directly into wall outlets, without using extension cords. Members also emphasized the necessity of turning off heaters before leaving a room or going to bed.