AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo's Fire Department stayed unusually busy Wednesday with the snow storm with fire calls. So, Pronews 7 asked, why? The fire department tells us many times, folks were driving by a location and seeing what looked like some coming from a roof and called 911. But many times, it's was just steam coming from a heater or venting unit, especially during these days when our area is battling frigid temperatures. However, there were 2 house fires on Wednesday that happened when folks tried to thaw their frozen pipes with space heaters.

"Space heaters have their purpose, underneath a house is not one of them. We recommend that you keep space heaters clear 3 feet all the way around. Space heaters are, the new ones, they're very safe you just have to be careful and keep everything away from them and not put them under the house," said Captain Wes Hall, Amarillo Fire Department.

"I would recommend calling in a professional plumber and letting him do it. Doing it yourself putting a space heater under the house is not what they're designed to do. So it's pretty dangerous," said Captain Hall.

Hall adds, if you're using a fire place to help warm your home to make sure your chimney is clean and you're using the appropriate firewood.