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Written by Reporter1
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Monday, 05 October 2009 |
By JOE SPAULDING
Allen County Coroner E. Jon Brandenberger has ruled smoke inhalation and severe thermal burns to over 50 percent of the body as the cause of death for James E. Gravens, 51, Village Green Apartments, Decatur.
Gravens was flown Friday afternoon by the Parkview Samaritan helicopter to St. Joseph's Hospital's burn unit in Fort Wayne after he suffered burns from a fire in his Village Green Apartment.
Decatur Fire Department Assistant Chief and fire investigator Jim Hitchcock said this morning that the call for the fire came in at 1 p.m. Friday and firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire to Gravens apartment.
He estimated damage to the apartment at $15,000, but apartments adjacent to Gravens' unit were not damaged.
Firefighters were on the scene until 4:58 p.m.
Adams County EMS paramedics transferred Gravens to Adams Memorial Hospital where he was initially treated prior to being flown to St. Joseph's Hospital.
A spokesperson for the Allen County Coroner's office said today that Gravens died at 1:32 p.m. Saturday.
Hitchcock said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but he noted that fire officials are looking at the kitchen area as being a possible cause as the stove was left on.
Assisting in the investigation along with the Decatur Fire Department are the Decatur Police Department and the State Fire Marshall's Office.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 October 2009 )
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