The Albany fire chief is sharing tips about how people can stay safe during the winter.

Chief Joseph Gregory said not to use gas ovens to heat your home. Also, don’t use a blow torch to melt ice from frozen pipes.

People should keep the area around fire hydrants clear so firefighters can access them quickly in case of an emergency. Also, Gregory said to leave as soon as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms sound off.

People should also be careful using space heaters, according to Gregory. They should keep them away at least 3 feet from anything that can burn easily such as loose papers, blankets, furniture and curtains.

“Also, when you do leave the room, we ask that you turn the portable heaters off. That’s just a good safety measure, and turn them off when you do go to bed at night,” he said.

Gregory said the Albany Fire Department responded to more than 1,800 calls for their services during the month of December.