Recent structure fires in La Crosse and Onalaska have firefighters on alert but unfortunately this time of year it's a normal occurrence.
According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) , the months of December, January and February account for half of all home heating fires nationwide.
La Crosse Fire Department Community Risk Educator Patrick Corran said in the winter, there are more portable heating appliances taxing home power supplies. "We do see more fire this time of the year as a result of space heaters and overloaded electrical systems within houses," Corran said. "So just making sure that we get the message out there that if it heats or cools, so if it's a space heater, it's plugged into its own outlet."