Another Fatality Blamed On A Space Heater

The cold weather we've been having in Mobile has led to a number of fires involving space heaters.
Another deadly fire happened Monday afternoon on University Avenue.
80 year old Gerald McDonald died after his clothes caught fire, apparently from a gas space heater in his bathroom.
Now, more people are paying attention to the potential danger of space heaters.
Steve Huffman with the Mobile Fire Department said, "We have had a rash of heating-type fires and, unfortunately, we have had some fatalities."
In this blaze, fire officials said McDonald was found dead in his bathroom.
Huffman said, "There is a gas space heater, a fixed space heater, in the bathroom, and it appears that his clothes caught on fire."
Janine Burnet lives next door to McDonald.
She said McDonald is a former police officer who lived by himself and has suffered some strokes.
Burnet said, "His wife was a jewel. She died of cancer a few years ago, so he's been pretty much on his own."
In talking about flammable items, Huffman said, "Its not just bedding, its not just curtains and clothes, its what you're wearing. If you get too close, a child gets too close, its very possible their clothes could catch on fire."
Maureen Madison lives a few houses away from where the blaze broke out.
She said she had a scary incident involving a family member and a space heater recently.
Madison said, "My daughter moved a chair the other day and almost lit a coat on fire, and my husband is freaking out, screaming at her. But she's four: just keep her away from them (space heaters.)
Huffman added, "I can't stress it enough. Don't ever take the attitude that it can't happen to me, because that's the very person it usually happens to."
Fire investigators said McDonald's clothes caught fire and that's what they believe caused his death.
However, they said they're not sure whether McDonald had passed out or had a medical problem at the time.