Victoria C. Quiller, 87, died Feb. 6 after her Martinez home
caught fire. The fire at the Collins Drive home, Columbia
County's only fatal fire last winter, is believed to have
started with one of the several kerosene and electric space
heaters inside the cluttered home. Many home fires, which occur
much more often in the winter, can be traced to heating
equipment and alternative heat sources such as HVAC systems,
fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters, officials say. The
peak months for home heating fires are December, January and
February, accounting for 43 percent of fires, according to the
National Fire Prevention Association. Space heaters, such as the
ones that started the fire at Quiller's home, can be
particularly dangerous if not used properly. Space heaters were
involved in 26 percent of home heating fires in 2003 and 73
percent of fire-related deaths in 2003, according to the fire
prevention association's most recent statistics. Heating
equipment too close to flammable items such as upholstered