Clothing and furniture too close to a bar heater sparked a house fire in Gilmore on Sunday night, prompting ACT firefighters to again remind warn Canberra residents of this high risk during the winter months.
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The smoke alarm was automatically triggered and all the occupants in the house safely evacuated as emergency services were notified.
![Bar heater sparks house fire Bar heater sparks house fire](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc6rupqnutxquf2wz1oya.jpg/r0_0_4157_2762_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The emergency call from the Louisa Lawson Crescent home arrived just after 10.30pm, and Fire and Rescue were on scene a short time later.
Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and immediately fought the fire, managing to contain it to a single room in the house.
About 35 per cent of house fires in Canberra during the peak of winter in July last year were caused by heaters and dryers.
The head of ACT Fire and Rescue Mark Brown said some simple preventative action during winter could save lives including cleaning the lint filter in your clothes dryer every time you use it, and keeping clothing and furniture at least one metre away from a heater.