Heating appliances are a leading cause of fire-related deaths in the United States every year, according to first responders.The West Palm Beach Police Department shared some important safety tips for people to keep in mind as they warm up their houses for what could be the first time this season.Weather | Radar | Hurricanes | Traffic | uLocal | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you’re turning on your space heater, you’ll likely smell dust burning off the coils. If that smell doesn’t dissipate, or you smell smoke or see flames, call 911.Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from a portable heater and do not let children near them.Never use your oven or cooking appliances to heat your home.Make sure to turn off portable heaters when you go to bed or leave your room.Test their smoke alarms every month.Never use outdoor cooking equipment like charcoal or propane grills to heat your home or garage.Clean your chimney before it gets cold every year.The latest: Weather coverage from WPBF 25 News "We want everyone to stay warm but also stay safe,” said Mike Jachles, the public information officer for the West Palm Beach Police Department. "It's important for people to follow these tips and stay safe because we don’t want anyone to lose their home or god-forbid get injured or killed in a fire. These are preventable."In the headlines: Cold weather doesn't stop fairgoers from enjoying South Florida Fair