BATON ROUGE - It may not feel like winter just yet, but the cold season is coming.

After a string of house fires earlier this year, the Baton Rouge Fire Department is asking residents to be prepared ahead of time. In 2018, Louisiana has seen 70 fire-related deaths with many of those fires happening during the first few days of the year.

BRFD says that during the colder months, heating units are the leading cause of house fires.

If using a space heater, residents should place the unit at least three feet away from anything flammable. Additionally, they should not be used in rooms with children or pets.

The fire department wants people to know that preparation is key. Residents should have an escape plan in place in case of an emergency. There should be two ways out of every room and each family should have a designated meeting place outside of the home.

Residents should also have working smoke alarms inside their homes. If you need a working smoke detector, contact the Red Cross for a free installation at 225-491-4533.