Two fires last Wednesday resulted in a total property loss of a garage and house trailer in Willard and Estancia.

A house trailer at the corner of Joseph and Walker in Estancia was completely destroyed, according to Estancia Fire Chief Wayne Granger. No injuries were reported, he said.

The fire in Estancia went into early Thursday morning, Granger said. The trailer was older, but had been remodeled within the past five to eight years, Granger said. The fire then rekindled about 6 a.m. Thursday, Granger said, and Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative had to move a power line for safety.

The state fire investigator came to the location Monday to determine the official cause. The determination was that the fire had started in the hallway, but what actually started the fire is unknown, Granger said.

An electrical plug with metal in the socket was found near the burned area with the highest burn intensity, Granger said, but no cord. Investigators suspect a heater plugged into the socket could have been the problem, but the tenant would not say whether a heater was in the trailer, and the owner did not know if one was in the unit. No remnants of a heater were found after the fire was put out, Granger said.

The trailer was being rented, and no property of significant value was inside, the owner told responders, with the exception of truck keys, boots and clothing.

A garage fire in Willard also resulted in a total loss, according to Torrance County Fire Marshal Jason Trumbull. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Trumbull said, and the fire investigator had not been out to the site yet. The Willard Fire Department, Estancia Fire, Torrance County and Mountainair responded to the fire about 7 p.m., Trumbull said.

A car was in the garage, Trumbull said, and no injuries were reported. No one was living at the property, and the owner lives in McIntosh, Trumbull said.

Fire responders left the scene about 11 p.m. after the fire was put out, he said.

When asked if fires in winter were a common occurrence, Trumbull said it varies from year to year.

The Santa Fe County Web site gives several tips for winter fire safety.

Install carbon monoxide detectors, or find one that detects smoke and carbon monoxide. Ask the local gas and propane companies if they have equipment to check appliances.

If using space heaters (gas or electric), keep a minimum distance of 3 feet or the manufacturer's recommended distance, from combustible items such as furniture, curtains and toys.

If using a wood burning heat source (wood stove or fireplace), dispose of ash in a metal container with a lid and wet it down.

If water pipes freeze, do not use an open flame source (such as a torch) to thaw the pipe. Contact a licensed plumber or a local home improvement store for suggestions on defrosting your pipes.