BATON ROUGE, LA (NBC33) — With the coldest air in months here, fire departments all across the state say be careful when you turn that heater on for the first time.

The number of calls for house fires spikes when the weather turns cold. Area fire departments say that's just because people aren't as careful as they should be with heaters and fireplaces.

The Saint George Fire Department in Baton Rouge says you're a lot safer by just remembering the number three.

“Just remind yourself that three feet is a safe distance and don't ever allow anything within that three feet distance that you can burn,” Eldon Ledoux, St. George Fire District Representative, explained about fire heater safety.

Ledoux says it's important to remember to shield any heaters, especially if you have pets or small children.