(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -A home in Couer d’Alene was severely damaged after an early morning house fire Tuesday.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it’s a good reminder to make sure your home is safe this holiday season.
At the time of the fire, four people were inside, but firefighters say they made it out safe.
The call came in just before 6 A.M., Tuesday. Firefighters say they quickly got a handle on the fire, but also had to deal with a small fire that started at the natural gas meter close by.
While firefighters work to determine how the fire started, Coeur d’Alene Fire Inspector Craig Etherton has a few tips for families to make sure their home stays safe this holiday.
“Make sure that anything that is combustible, such as Christmas trees, Christmas presents, couches stay away from that heat source whether that's a portable heater or a fire place or any other heating device that you have in your house such as a wood stove and all those sorts of things,” Etherton said.
Etherton says if you are using a natural Christmas tree; make sure it’s watered regularly.
If you are using an artificial tree, make sure it’s UL certified.
Etherton added people are switching to LED Christmas lights, which give off less heat than older lights.