A fire this morning on Collier Avenue was quickly brought under control by Shelbyville firefighters, but could have been much worse -- and it serves as a warning during the current cold snap, according to Brian Nicholson of Shelbyville Fire Department.

This morning's fire was caused by a wall heater. Because the fire happened in the morning, and firefighters arrived quickly, the harm was mainly confined to smoke damage and some burned paneling. But if the fire had happened overnight, it might have been much worse -- especially because the home did not have working smoke detectors, said Nicholson.

Many wall heaters or space heaters are thermostat-controlled, said Nicholson. A homeowner may assume that they have been turned off when they are actually just idle, and could come on unexpectedly once the temperature drops. That could cause problems if flammable items are too close to the heater.

Nicholson said the guidelines are that nothing flammable should be placed within three feet of a space heater or wall heater, in any direction. That includes above the heater; sometimes, careless homeowners will hang a towel above the wall heater in their bathroom.

And smoke detectors are a necessity, placed near bedrooms and the kitchen and on every level of a home.

Local fire departments have programs to provide smoke detectors to senior citizens and others in need; call them for details, or for more information about fire prevention. Shelbyville Fire Department can be reached at 684-6241, while Volunteer Fire Services Inc., which serves the rural portions of the county, can be reached at 684-9223.

In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1.