Tri-State prepares for first cold snap of the season

CINCINNATI - People across the Tri-State closed their windows and pulled out their space heaters to prepare for Sunday night's freeze warning. 

Cincinnati Fire Department District 3 Chief Paul Weber says space heaters are the second leading cause of fires throughout the year.

“We’ll start to see the space heater fires. We’ll start to see the carbon monoxide runs where people are using equipment that’s not approved for indoor use. People using their stoves for heating, which is a big no-no,” Weber said.

Before you pull out your space heater, Chief Weber has a few tips to keep you safe:

• Keep all space heaters at least three feet away from household combustibles.
• Use space heaters only as a supplementary source of heat. These devices are not intended to replace a home's heating system.
• Do not use extension cords with space heaters unless absolutely necessary.
• Inspect the heater's cord periodically to look for frayed wire or damaged insulation. Do not use a space heater with a damaged cord.

Also when purchasing a new space heater, always make sure you look for the UL seal of approval.

Chief Weber said that means it’s gone through that testing process and that unit is a safe unit.

Before those freezing temps hit, now is also the time to protect your outdoor plants. If you use tropical plants to decorate your patio or yard, it's time to bring those indoors.

If you’re thinking of re-seeding your lawn these colder temperatures are going to put the breaks on that.

“The soil temperature is going to drop and if the seed starts to come up and first starts to germinate, the new seeds very tender and can be vulnerable to frost,” said Chris Mckeown, owner of Bloomin Garden Centre & Landscaping.

Mckeown says now would be a great time to replace your annual flowers, like tulips and daisies, with mums or cabbage.