The incorrect use of heaters and stoves in the private housing sector is the most common cause of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings. The installations working on natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas and also the Christmas lights tree pose an increased threat. The over 1,900 fires reported so far this year resulted in 88 deaths, colonel Oleg Malashevski, head of the Prevention Division of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, told a news conference.

According to the colonel, the stove should not be left burning at night and children should not be left unsupervised in rooms where the fire is burning. The rooms where there are gas heaters or boilers should be permanently ventilated.

The electric decorations placed on the Christmas trees should be turned off when leaving home or at night. The installation of an autonomous smoke detector can help prevent fires in dwellings. If the detector sounds a warning, the person can take measures to extinguish the fire or can call the 112 Service and leave the house meanwhile.

Layers of ice appeared on some of the rivers and ponds, but these are very thin and walking on them is very dangerous. For walking on ice to be safe, the ice should be at least 7 cm thick. When temperatures are above zero degrees Celsius, walking on ice should be avoided, noted Oleg Malashevski.