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PARKERSBURG - The improper use or malfunction of space heaters have caused six fire deaths in West Virginia during October, with three of the deaths in Parkersburg, fire officials said.

"With the high cost of heating bills, people are looking for alternative ways to heat their homes. Space heaters are pretty common," said Parkersburg Fire Inspector Mike Beckett. "But they can be dangerous if used improperly."

Portable heating units cause around 4,000 home fires and around 125 deaths every year, and the bedroom is the leading area of origin for these types of fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

The three deaths in Parkersburg occurred the morning of Oct. 11 at 423 Camden Ave. when material near a space heater caught fire, investigators said. Killed were Amanda McClain, Amanda's infant son, Conner James Dwayne Joy, and Jesse Hayes, McClain's boyfriend.

"The rule of thumb if you are going to use a space heater is, they need space," said Beckett. "Make sure there are at least 3 feet of empty space surrounding the heater. Keep them away from beds, clothes and furniture."

"In my years, I've seen fires start because people have tried to dry clothes on space heaters, or because bedding or other combustible materials have been draped over them. It's so important to keep that clearance area," he said.

Central home heating systems are not a leading cause of house fires, Parkersburg fire Chief Eric Chichester said.

When purchasing a space heater, look for the Underwriters Laboratories safety label, which guarantees the product has been approved by a product safety certification organization.

"Get a heater that has tip-over protection. If it were to accidentally fall over if a pet or child knocked it down, it automatically shuts off," said Chichester.

Unvented, fuel-fired space heaters can pose an even greater fire risk, said Beckett.

"They can be extremely dangerous because of the risk of carbon monoxide build-up," he said. "Many of them come with a feature that is supposed to detect carbon monoxide and automatically shut off when the oxygen level gets too low, but I wouldn't rely on that. I personally do not recommend unvented heaters."

A regular furnace can pose the same risk if not well-maintained, so Beckett recommends keeping all heating appliances, chimneys and furnaces well-maintained, with annual check-ups by an authorized service person.

"No matter what type of space heater you are using, turn it off and unplug it when you go to sleep or leave the house," said Chichester.

"Just be very cautious," he said. "The problem isn't really with the space heater itself, but with misusing it and leaving it unnattended."