The crackle and warmth of a fireplace is the essence of wintertime coziness.

Not so nice, though, is that more home fires break out during the winter months. In fact, half of all home heating fires occur between December and February, the National Fire Protection Association says.

So, how can you help keep your family and home safe while staying warm by the fireplace? We checked with some experts.

Inspections and service

Before the weather turns cold, make sure your fireplace is safe to use. That means hiring a professional chimney sweep – preferably one certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America – to check for creosote buildup, obstructions and other hazards.

Creosote is a mixture of hundreds of chemicals that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says can build up inside your chimney over time from burning wood.

That buildup can become flammable, warns John Crouch, director of public affairs at the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.

It’s not enough to use chimney cleaning/creosote logs. Although these products “can make creosote flake off, they don’t eliminate creosote and soot,” the CSIA says. “All they do is make it easier for a chimney sweep to get in there and clean everything out.”

Added Crouch: “With regular inspections and service, a fireplace can be safely used for a long time.”

Other smart steps to take:

• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to keep sparks from jumping out.
• Move anything flammable at least 3 feet away from the fire and keep kids out of that zone.
• Make sure the flue or damper is open when starting a fire. Experts suggest using a mirror or flashlight to check.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the same room as your fireplace. Test the detectors monthly and change their batteries annually.
• Make sure any “on” switches or remote controls are kept out of reach of children.
• Keep a fire extinguisher near your fireplace, and use only fireplace tools when tending to a fire, the HPBA says.

The right materials

Did you know that using newspaper or other types of paper to start a fire can release harmful smoke or other emissions into your home? Use small pieces of wood or kindling to start a fire instead, Crouch says.

You also want to burn a mixture of “seasoned” (dried) hard and soft woods. The more moisture in the wood, the more smoke and creosote it will produce, the CSIA says. Moisture also can make wood more difficult to burn.

Soft woods, such as pine or cedar, light more easily. Hard woods, such as hickory or oak, take longer to light but will burn longer than soft wood.

“A mixture of both will lead to a longer burning fire that starts up easily,” Crouch said.

Safe sleeping

Don’t go to sleep if your fire is burning or still glowing. It needs to be completely out before you go to bed, and you need to make sure the flue or damper stays open until all embers have cooled, the HPBA says.

Before starting your next fire, you’ll want to clean out the ashes. Scoop them into a metal container with a lid, such as a coffee can, and place that container outside your home, at least 10 feet away.

Not your fireplace?

What if you’re in a rental property or friend’s home and want to use the fireplace? What should you do? First, Crouch said, it’s wise to inspect the fireplace. Is it clean? Does it look like it’s used regularly or does it have cobwebs? It’s also a good idea to reach out to the owner and ask for any guidance or instructions.

“Before starting the fire, make certain the damper is open, as it’s usually left in a closed position,” Crouch said. “Most fireplaces have a lever or chain in the lower part of the flue.”