Structure Fire Results in Fatality
February 4 – Doodle Hill Road, St. Matthews
In the early evening hours of Feb 4, firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire on the outskirts of St. Matthews.
The residence was a single-family structure, constructed of cinder block with a conventional wood/shingle roof. Two passing motorists, one a member of a mutual aid station responding to the fire, attempted to gain access to the home, but were driven back by smoke and heat, and called 911.
The blaze appears to have started in a back bedroom, where a kerosene heater was found. The victim was found by firefighters entering the structure. EMS was called in and pronounced the victim dead. Firefighters were able to knock the fire down before it could further involve the residence. The bedroom of origin was completely consumed by the fire, and part of the adjoining hallway, also. The rest of the house suffered some smoke and heat damage.
Mutual aid stations responding to the scene included Belleville, Caw Caw, and Jamison Volunteer Fire Departments. Also supporting the incident were the St. Matthews Police Department, Calhoun County EMS, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.
SLED has been called in to investigate, and results are pending.