DeLonghi Heater - Oil Heater - Radiator Review

I have enjoyed our DeLonghi Oil Filled Heater since last winter, we recently started using it again as fall sets in and along with the usual smell of the first few times of use...I contribute that to the dust mostly. There was a strong odor that I did not remember from last use. While in the garage today I smelled it again, so I picked up the extension cord it is plugged into it smelled fine and was not hot to touch, we had plugged it in to a heavy duty extension cord (same as last year) as the outlet itself is hard to get at. As I put the cord down the plug on the heater started smoking like crazy and the smell was horrendous. Needless to say I was shocked and unplugged the two from each other immediately. The cord to the DeLonghi is fried. I'm freaking out now. The smell is lingering in the garage. I should mention here that we have used that same extension cord for many other uses and have never had a problem with it before. My question? Was it a faulty product, faulty cord, something electrical in my garage? My fiancee' works way up north and i haven't a clue what to do...Our freezer and second fridge is plugged in out there and now I'm thinking I should perhaps find another source of electricity for them until the problem is solved. Anyone else have simalir problems? You can contact me at:    lacassa_dawn@hotmail.com  Thanks Anita