Cigarette may have started fire that killed Whitsett man
State police investigators said Thursday that a house fire in Whitsett that killed a Star Junction man probably was started by a cigarette. State police said Thomas Wingrove, 47, died when a residence on Pilgrim Street caught fire around 8:45 p.m. Sunday.
Fayette County Deputy Coroner Marisa Springer pronounced Wingrove dead at the scene at 10:42 p.m. after firefighters recovered Wingrove’s body from the home. His body was found near a doorway.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said Thursday the death was not suspicious.
“There was no foul play or external trauma,” Reilly said. “He was alive at the time of fire.”
Reilly said toxicology tests revealed Wingrove had a blood-alcohol level of .20, more than two times the legal limit.
“He was lying on the couch when the fire began and was intoxicated. He became aware of the fire and made it half way to the door, but with those breaths in a high carbon dioxide environment, it was lethal,” Reilly said.
State police trooper John Marshall said the fire started on the couch and probably was ignited by a cigarette.
“In all likelihood, he was smoking and fell asleep,” Marshall said.
According to Marshall, the carbon monoxide saturation in Wingrove’s system was 77 percent, well above survivable levels.
The fire, which destroyed the living room of the home owned by Lanny Little of Washington County, has been ruled accidental.
Tom Olshanski, a spokesman for the U.S. Fire Administration, said taking a few measures to ensure fire safety at home often can prevent fatal fires.
“Every year in this country, we lose 4,000 people to fire, another 30,000 are permanently scarred and burned for life by fire,” Olshanski said. “Last year, we also lost 116 firefighters in the line of duty.”
There are fire hazards everywhere, from the carpeting to the drapery, to the doors and desks and computers. Fires are now burning hotter and faster than ever and emitting more toxic smoke as well.”
Olshanski said the key to fire safety is having a working smoke alarm in the home.
“More than 50 percent of fire deaths occur in homes without a working smoke alarm,” Olshanski said. “We don’t have the ability to put a firefighter on every street corner, but we can put a smoke alarm in every home.”
Additionally, Olshanski said homeowners should develop a strategy should a fire strike their residence.
He said in the last few weeks, 43 children have been killed across the country in house fires.
“You just need to know what you are going to do if a fire breaks out,” Olshanksi said.
In addition to state police, volunteer firefighters from Perry Township, DL&V, Dawson, Fayette City and Belle Vernon fire departments and emergency personnel from Perry Ambulance and the coroner’s office responded to the scene.