With the wintry winds and dropping temperatures, Winnipeg fire fighters are warning people not to plug their vehicles in inside a garage.

When the mercury drops, the number of garage fires goes up in Winnipeg, according to Winnipeg Fire Paramedic spokesperson Marc Proulx.

If a fire sparks, most garages don't have smoke detectors or warning systems, he added.

"The fire starts, your family is sound asleep at night and the first sign, all of a sudden, is the fire itself with the smoke working its way into your home," Proulx saud,

"That's a very difficult and dangerous situation for the family."

Some new homes have fire alarms connected to the garage but Proulx said "a lot of these garages don't have any early warning system."

If a car is parked inside a garage there is no need to plug it in, Proulx said adding as long as the vehicle is protected from the elements it should start.