Rip Andrews settled a case on behalf of a couple who lost their only son, age 7, in a house fire started by a faulty wall heater, and the couple was severely injured in the fire, as well. The fire marshal concluded the fire was caused by an in-wall radiant electric heater igniting a couch. The heater was made in 1974 and it had no independent off switch, and it could not be unplugged. It included no fire warnings. There was also no indicator light to let the users know it was powered on.
The couple, who were living in the family home temporarily, thought the heater was no longer working. It is believed that when temperatures dropped, near 40° F, the heater kicked on during the middle of the night.