BRISTOL, Tenn. – The man who died in a Christmas Day fire on College Avenue was identified as 78-year-old Hobart Grant, Bristol, Tenn., Fire Marshall Jack Spurgeon said Friday.
“I know that his death was attributed to the fire itself, but we don’t know yet whether the actual cause was smoke inhalation or the fire itself,” Spurgeon said. “It could have been a combination.”
Grant, who was bedridden, was home alone Thursday when the fire broke out in the living room of the duplex where he lives with his wife, Spurgeon said.
“My understanding is that his wife took care of him 24-7 and she had to run a quick errand,” he said. “I don’t think she was gone more than 15 minutes. That’s when it happened.”
A memorial service for Grant is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, at 7th and Locust streets in Bristol, Tenn. In addition to his wife, Ann Grant, he is survived by two brothers, Donald and Fred Grant, and two sisters, Evelyn Gray and Ruth Necessary.
On Friday, fire authorities said that the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Spurgeon said there were smoke detectors in the home, but the first emergency officials on the scene did not hear them Thursday.
“Smoke detectors are what you need,” Spurgeon said, “but if you’re bedridden and home alone, I don’t know if a smoke detector would have helped, as tragic as it is.”
Spurgeon said the best way to protect someone who is confined to their bed is by installing a sprinkler system that activates when heat or smoke is sensed.
“They’re actually not as expensive as people think they are,” he said. “If you look at new construction, it’s probably only about 1.25 percent of the cost.”
Sprinkler systems also can be installed after a home is built, but are a little more expensive.
“It depends on the capabilities a bedridden person has,” Spurgeon said. “If the smoke alarm activates and the person has a phone they can access, they might have enough time to call someone.”
ahunter@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement