ALBANY COUNTY — With cold weather set in, the number of fires in the region has increased. 

Just this week, there were two fires in the town of Rensselaerville: one was a fully involved structure fire that destroyed a home on Miller Road on Dec. 23, while the other burned an accessory building on Fox Creek Road on Christmas Eve, according to the Rensselaerville Volunteer Fire Department. 

No people were injured in either fire.

This is just weeks after an early-morning house fire in Knox killed the couple living there, and another fire in Westerlo displaced a large family. 

American Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs Volunteer Partner Mary Alice Molgard told The Enterprise this week that there has indeed been an “uptick” in the number of families the organization has assisted due to fires. 

Although not official figures, Molgard said that the Red Cross Northeast Region assisted in 18 incidents in the Capital District, including four in Albany County, not including the city of Albany or the town of Colonie. 

There were three incidents in Schoharie County, four in Schenectady County, five in Saratoga County, and two in Greene County, she said. 

Colder weather encourages people to employ various home-heating methods, which increases the risk for fire. Also,with below-zero temperatures, as was the case on Monday, pipes can freeze, which can lead people to use unsafe methods to thaw them.

Molgard, who is also a commissioner with the East Berne Fire District, said, “In addition to keeping chimneys clean, people need to take care with electric or kerosene heaters. Don’t pile clothing near or on heaters or place them near curtains or drapes. Electric heaters should be plugged directly into outlets, rather than using extension cords.”

She said that wood and pellet stoves need to be cleaned with the ash properly disposed of. “No plastic buckets,” she said. 

“Open fireplaces and candles are often a problem around the holidays,” Molgard said. “Candles should never be left burning unattended, and a fireplace screen is good to help control popping embers.”

However, home-heating doesn’t account for the total increase, with Molgard explaining that malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries — often used to power tools, and electric mobiles like scooters and bikes — have contributed to an increase in the number of fires statewide. 

“Overcharging these batteries is usually the issue, so manufacturers’ instructions should be followed,” she said. “Also, some lithium-ion batteries manufactured outside the US may not meet US safety standards.”