Heating homes during the winter is the second leading cause of house fires in the U.S., according to Red Cross.

Saturday there were four fires in El Paso, all of them were related to heaters.

"Our recommendation, when you're using a space heater give it space," said John Concha, a spokesperson with the El Paso Fire Department.

Concha said space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from the wall, curtains and clothing. They should be operated on hard, even surfaces.

Extension cords should not be used with space heaters and it is a good idea to get space heaters with an automatic shut-off feature.

Concha warned that space heaters should not be left unattended.

"You never know, it can malfunction, it can get a power surge, it can fall over and ignite something," Concha said.

Fire fighters think the chimney may have sparked the fire on Martinique and a floor heater is where flames sparked on Mountain Avenue.

For the fires at an apartment complex on Elm Street and a house on McGregor, a space heater may have been the cause.

Firefighters recommend getting floor heaters and inspected and for chimneys don't burn them too hot and be sure the embers are out before going to bed.

The bottom line: stay safe and warm.

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