RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) has shared tips from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Virginia residents stay safe while heating their homes in the fall and winter.

In the morning on Wednesday, Oct. 22, VDEM shared the following tips in a social media post from FEMA on how to heat your home while staying safe during colder weather: • When using a space heater: Keep anything that can burn, like bedding, clothing and curtains, at least three feet away from the heater. Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off. Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room. Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip. Only use portable heat

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