News 12’s Samantha Crawford is in the Alert Center with tips on how to stay warm safely during this brutally cold stretch of winter.

The National Fire Protection Association says about 500 people die a year in fires caused by home heating equipment.

Rockland County Director of Fire and Emergency Services Chris Kear says here is some guidelines to follow if you’re going to use a space heater:

• Keep it at least three feet from anything that can catch fire.

• Only plug it directly into an outlet.

• Make sure the heater’s tested by Underwriter Labs - a nonprofit dedicated to public safety.

“You have to be conscious of what you’re doing. Don’t leave the room. Don’t leave your home or your apartment with an oven on because some people do heat their homes with their ovens, unfortunately,” says Kear.

Kear also says you should always keep doors closed in a fire. It’ll keep the smoke and fire contained, giving people a better chance to escape.