The temperature outside is dropping and that means many are using their indoor fireplaces. Taylorville Fire Chief Mike Crews says fire departments often start to see chimney fires in the colder months, and had some tips to safely use your fireplace.

One tip Crews had was to never use any sort of liquid fire starters such as lighter fluid to light a fire in your fireplace, explaining some of the dangers to using it.

Crews also said to make sure that you have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home, and that they’re in proper working order. Here's the complete list of tips provided by Taylorville Fire Chief Mike Crews to ensure safe fireplace use.

1. Get an annual chimney inspection. Have your chimneys inspected and swept if needed. If the chimney (fireplace & furnace/water heater/flue) is clean and free of obstructions, there is less danger of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

3. Cap it. Have a chimney cap installed on all of the flues. They keep out rain, birds, squirrels, leaves and other debris that could obstruct the flow of flue gasses in your chimney.

4. The right fuel for the job. Well seasoned hard wood yields the most heat for your fireplace. Wood that has been split and stacked for 6 months out of the rain will be dry enough.

5. Liquid free light. Never use any type of liquid fire starters (lighter fluid, charcoal grill lighter, gasoline, etc.) to start the fire.

6. Read # 5 again!

7. Keep it clear. Keep all furniture and combustible furnishings at least 36 inches away from the fireplace or wood stove. Exposure to heat can lower the ignition temperature of combustible items over time, and they can catch fire.

8. Screens or doors. Have a fireplace screen or set of glass doors with a screen in front of your fireplace during operation. Flying sparks from sappy wood can burn holes in your carpet or furniture. Remember, if you have glass doors, they must be open during the operation of your fireplace, do not close them if a fire is burning. The glass is not rated for those temperatures and the fire will be starved for oxygen and may smoke up the home.

9. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are a must. Some of the newer units will detect both smoke and carbon monoxide, but both types should be installed throughout the home. Optimum placement is on the ceiling because that is where the smoke and carbon monoxide will be. .

10. Treat your fire like a child, watch them. As you might expect. I had an interest in fire as a young boy. I recall many times my granddad asking my brother and I to stop putting extra sticks in the fire. Tumbling logs off the grate can knock over a fireplace screen and start a house fire. Do not leave them unattended.

Please remember never to hesitate to call 911 if a fire does occur in the fire place. TFD fire crews are well versed on extinguishing these types of fires; which frankly can be a little tricky.