Over the past few years, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has received eight complaints about fabrics melting or burning when children or adults have stood near fixed or portable gas fires. Almost all fabrics are flammable.
Flames can race up the surface of cotton fabric and cover the whole body very quickly.
Fabrics made from synthetic fibre, such as polyester, acrylic or nylon, usually melt when exposed to high heat and may cause severe skin burns. Gas heaters in particular put out a pretty fierce heat, but care should also be taken in front of electric heaters. You should stand at least half a metre away - or, if it's uncomfortably hot, then you're too close. An even safer option is to use a fireguard as a physical barrier against getting too close to a heater.