TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) are teaming up to promote fire safety during winter months.

There are typically more home fires and home fire deaths in cooler months. Safety information under the umbrella “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” is aimed at raising awareness of winter fire risks and providing tools and information to reduce these risks.

Preparing for a new season is the first step in addressing safety.

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NFPA and USFA offer 10 Tips to Get Ahead of the Winter Freeze, a printable checklist of reminders, such as checking that vents have been cleaned and inspected, and furnaces have been inspected and serviced.

The campaign will begin with a focus on cooking fire safety and heating fire safety. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

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Thanksgiving is a peak day for cooking fires, with roughly three times the average number of cooking fires. It also marks the beginning of the holiday season, with Christmas and Christmas Eve ranking second and third in cooking fires. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires. Most cooking fires involve the range or cooktop.

Heating is the second leading cause of home fire deaths, behind smoking, and the second leading cause of home fire injuries.

From 2007-2011, most home heating fire deaths (81 percent) and injuries (70 percent) involved stationary or portable space heaters.

For tip sheets, videos and other information on how to prevent cooking, heating and other types of fires, visit http://www.nfpa.org/winter and http://www.usfa.fema.gov/winter. Check out the new online quiz and stay tuned to http://www.nfpa.org/winter or follow NFPA and USFA on social media for updates, new materials and other interactive ways to brush up on fire safety.

The “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign will run through mid-March and other topics will include holiday decorations, candles, electrical, winter storms and carbon monoxide.

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at http://www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.