GRESHAM, Ore. -- A woman died, along with four of her pets, in a house fire Wednesday morning in Gresham, authorities said.

The fire was spotted by a police officer at about 3 a.m. at 531 NE 183rd Avenue in Gresham and he quickly called for firefighters. But it appeared that the blaze had been burning for a while and when firefighters got inside, the woman was already dead in her bedroom, along with her three dogs and one cat.

Police have not released the victim's name, pending notification of relatives, but said she was 39-years old.

"Pending the medical examiner’s report, the victim appeared to have succumbed to smoke inhalation as was true of the animals," said Fire Marshal Gus Lian. "Fire investigators have determined that the fire started in the living room where a space heater had been placed up against combustibles. The victim’s furnace wasn’t working and the recent cold temperatures necessitated her use of area heaters."

The home was destroyed. Some of the firefighters fell through the damaged floor when they first began to attack the flames. They said the fire was fueled by a great deal of clutter and debris inside the home.

Firefighters said this tragedy was a painful reminder of the dangers space heaters pose. They said citizens need to be reminded to take safety precautions, especially when temperatures drop and mechanical systems stop working.

They shared the following safety tips:

•Never utilize area heaters that do not have tip over and temperature limit switches

•Area heaters should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet. If cords are a necessity, always use the shortest length cord required, of proper size incorporating an internal circuit breaker

•Never place combustibles like clothing; plastic bins or bags; cardboard or paper within three feet of a heating appliance including baseboard heaters

•If you have pets, ensure they cannot tip the heating appliance over or push combustibles up against the unit

•If you use candles, never leave the unattended, blow them out before going out or retiring for the night

•Keep candles at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn and keep wicks trimmed to ¼ inch. Extinguish and remove candles that burn down to within two inches of their holder

•Use candle holders that are sturdy; won’t tip over easily; can collect dripping wax; and are made from material that cannot burn or break due to heat