when using heaters and fires this winter.

"With the arrival of cooler weather most residents will soon be using heaters to warm their houses and workplaces,'' he said.

"These heaters commonly use electricity or fuels such as kerosene. To ensure safe usage of these heating devices the Bermuda Fire Service recommends that people follow these safety tips.'' 1. Turn electric heaters off and unplug them when not in use 2. Provide proper ventilation when using portable kerosene heaters - they use up oxygen as they burn 3. Keep heaters well away from curtains, beds and clothes 4. Don't put heaters in busy areas like halls and doorways 5. Don't refill kerosene heaters indoors, and turn heaters off before refuelling 6. Teach children about the dangers of heaters and warn them not to touch or interfere with heaters 7. Don't run electrical cords under rugs or where they can be walked on 8. If you have a fireplace, always use fire screens and never leave the fire burning unattended.

Mr. Rawlins said fire headquarters would be happy to answer any queries.

Fires caused around $45,463 worth of damage to buildings last month, latest statistics reveal.

But no-one was seriously hurt in the 88 calls received by firefighters.

The total compares to 110 calls in October last year.