CLAYTON COUNTY - The State Fire Marshal says there have been an alarming number of fire-related deaths here in Iowa already this year.

There have been 13 fire-related deaths in the first 37 days of 2009.

Just this week Clayton County authorities found an 87-year old man dead after a garage fire near Strawberry Point Thursday afternoon.

The cause of his death is still unknown.

Howard Meyers' family says he was doing what he loved Thursday afternoon.

Tinkering with stuff in the garage that sits near his home.
The family tells TV9 Meyers' was using a wood burning stove to keep himself and the cats warm inside the garage.

Somebody noticed the fire while driving, but it was too late for Howard Meyers. He died inside his beloved garage.

Meyers' autopsy report is still pending. So whether or not it was smoke or fire that took his life remains unknown.

Since the first of the year 13 Iowans died in fires, from things like smoke inhalation.

That's twice the number of fire-related deaths compared to this time last year. It's one third of fire-related deaths compared to all of 2008.

Clayton County Sheriff Mike Tschirgi said,"it seems like it is quite high, actually in the past couple of weeks there has been several in this area."

That includes the four children who died in a house fire last month near Greeley.

The state fire marshal and local authorities are urging people to be extra cautious with fire.

And make sure fire detectors are working properly, and test them once a month or change the batteries.