An alarming jump in fire fatalities across the state has fire officials sounding an alarm and urging for increased fire safety awareness.

Henry County fire Capt. Sabrina Puckett said that nine people died in fires across Georgia during the first 14 days of 2013, more than doubling the four killed in fires during the first two weeks of 2012.

Included in that total were four children who died last week in a Rockdale County house fire, and one fire fatality in Henry County.

“We must join together to help reduce the number of home fires, and the resulting deaths, injuries and loss of property in our communities,” Puckett said Tuesday. “We rely on our firefighters to fight fires once they occur; however, the prevention of fires is up to all of us.”

Puckett said several steps can be taken to reduce the risk of house fires:

• Keep items at least three feet away from space heaters.

• When buying a space heater, only buy one with a safety feature that automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over.

• If you use a kerosene heater, only use the type of fuel listed in the instructions.

• Allow kerosene heaters to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.

• Keep fire inside a fireplace by making sure you have a fireplace screen large enough to stop flying sparks and rolling logs.

• Have your chimney inspected at least once a year, as tar build-up inside of the chimney can cause the chimney, roof and entire house to go up in flames.

• Use seasoned wood in fireplaces and wood stoves.

• Never take smoke alarm batteries out to put into other items like games or remote controls.

• Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear the alarm sound.

• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

• If there is a fire, leave the home right away by crawling low under the smoke, and never go back inside.