Winter is upon us and homeowners are at an increased risk of fire hazards. Many culprits include fireplaces, space heaters, faulty electrical outlets/cords and candles. The important first step to fire prevention is ensuring that your smoke detectors are in working order and are in proper locations. You may even wish to invite your local fire department to assist you with the current requirements or codes. Be aware that some towns require hard-wired smoke detectors. Check out the new Massachusetts Smoke Alarm Requirements.