To provide a release agent applying device and a fixing device capable of keeping the viscosity of a release agent constant and stabilizing the amount of the release agent to be applied on a fixing body or a pressure body, and also, accurately detecting the abnormality of the release agent applying device, and to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with the fixing device.

The drive of an oil heater 40b is controlled by a heater control part 45 so that the temperature of oil in an oil pan 40e may reach a set temperature while maintaining the temperature of the oil heater 40b in a prescribed temperature condition based on the detection temperature of thermistors 40c-1 and 40c-2, and also, it is determined that the oil applying unit 40 is abnormal if the detection temperature by the thermistors 40c-1 and 40c-2 does not satisfy the prescribed temperature condition, and then, the drive of the oil heater 40b is controlled by the heater control part 45 so that the temperature rise of the oil applying unit 40 may be prevented.