Northeast Michigan has had a rash of structure fires in recent weeks.

While the causes of those fires aren’t yet publicly known, we thought it an opportune time to remind folks how to practice fire safety.

American Family Insurance offers the following tips:

∫ Educate everyone about fire safety. The most important safety tip is to make sure everyone in your home, including the kiddos, know how to be safe and follow the rest of these tips.

∫ Test your smoke detectors. Make sure your smoke detectors are in good working order, testing them at least once a month. If there is a fire, knowing about it as soon as possible can make the difference between life or death or at least major or minor damage.

∫ Be aware of flammable materials. Everything from lawn clippings to rubbing alcohol to cooking oil to flour to nail polish can start a fire. Be aware of flammable materials, store them safely and away from places where flames could reach them.

∫ Keep pets secured. Especially untrained pets should be kept in a safe place where they can’t make chew toys or bathrooms out of electrical cords.

∫ Check your wiring. Make sure to have a professional check your home’s wiring, air conditioner and furnace to make sure they’re in good working order. Those are some of the most common causes of house fires.

With a little preparation, we can avoid catastrophe.