KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- If you have a wood burning fireplace, it's important to clean out your flue.

 “Make sure you have your chimneys or flues all clean prior to the heating season,” Kirksville Fire Department Chief Randy Behrens said. “And…make sure you don't leave it unintended. Make sure your children, dogs and animals can't get into it. Have a screen in front of it, so sparks can't fly out.”

Behrens recommended hiring a professional to come and clean your chimney or flue.

If you're burning wood, make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector and smoke detector in your home.

Also, when you're removing hot ashes, make sure you put them in a metal container and not in a cardboard box.

And, be sure you put that metal container out in your yard away from your house, not on your front porch or back deck where it might start a fire.

He also said make sure you're burning dry, seasoned wood.