CHARLOTTE -- Fire departments across the state are reminding people about the dangers of using alternative sources to heat their homes.
If you lose electricity, dress in layers and use blankets. Do not attempt to heat your home with something that is not intended for that purpose.
"We want to make sure people understand they shouldn't bring grills or other heating elements inside. Those produce carbon monoxide,” said emergency management director Jeff Dulin. “Make sure if you use a kind of alternate heat source, it is 3 feet away from any combustibles."
If you lose power, call your utility company. Don't assume someone else is going to report the outage.