As oil prices continue to rise it may stop many people from reaching for the thermostat. But they'll have to find someway to keep warm and that's what local fire departments are worried about. Families finding dangerous methods to stay warm.

"With the cost of oil this year everybody is going to try to save money by trying something new and we just want to make sure that people are aware to do it safely," says William Millin of the Northampton Fire Department.

Local fire officials say they find what many people turn to are space heaters. While they are effective it's easy for people to become complacent about where the heaters are placed and how close they are to flammable objects.

"Space heaters need to be kept away from combustibles, keep small children away from them and keep animals away from them also because they can tip them over," says Daniel Dupre of the Chicopee Fire Department.

In January of 2007 a fire caused by a space heater ripped through a Westfield home. The family inside had been using a space heater to keep warm because the furnace had not been working for months. The fire devastated the second floor and destroyed the slate roof which made battling the blaze even harder for fire fighters. Which is why many departments have held open houses to reach out to the public and make them aware about fire safety.

Fire officials say they know people will need to keep warm one way or another so the use of space heaters is inevitable. They just hope people will use them properly. If you need any tips on safe ways to keep warm this winter just contact your local fire department.