St. Louis, MO (KTRS)  The St. Louis Fire Department is urging residents to have working smoke detectors in their homes and about the dangers of secondary heating sources.

This comes after a house fire in north St. Louis claimed the lives of three children over the weekend. Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson held a news conference on Monday to once again get the message out to the community. “You look at this event and it’s sad, it’s sorrowful, it’s terribly tragic. The most important thing it’s preventable. ”

Jenkerson also addressed the dangers of using secondary heat sources such as space heaters and stoves.  “Anytime you use a secondary heating source, a space heater, no matter the brand, you’re gambling with your lives, you’re gambling with your children’s lives, you’re gambling with your grandchildren’s lives.”

Anyone needing help with utilities bills may contact HeatUp St. Louis at 314-241-7668.

The St. Louis Fire Department will conduct a smoke detector blitz on Tuesday, where firefighters will go door to door to offer and install the devices free of charge.  You may also request a free smoke detector by contacting the St. Louis Fire Department at (314) 533-3406.

Fire investigators say it appears that the fatal fire in the 4900 block of Plover Avenue Sunday morning was caused by a secondary heating source.  The family was using a space heater and a stove to heat their home.  Two girls, ages 4 and 6, and a 10-month-old boy died as a result of the fire. There were no working smoke detectors in the home.

Two others were also killed in fires over the weekend in the St. Louis region.