State Fire Marshal Butch Browning released information today regarding a residential fire that claimed the life of one of the two occupants in a two story residence in Plain Dealing.
At approximately 11:00pm Saturday night, Plain Dealing firefighters were dispatched to 821 Fire Tower Rd., where a residence was found engulfed in flames. One of the occupants who escaped the blaze, 47 year old Bruce Lynn, told firefighters his father had not made it out of the home. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters located the remains believed to be that of 76 year old George Lynn, in his bedroom. An attempt to positively identify the victim through DNA analysis is planned.
State Fire Marshal investigators dispatched to the scene to assist with determining the origin and cause for the fire have determined the fire originated in the area of the victim’s bedroom. Due to the severe damage to the structure, an exact cause for the fire could not be determined but there has been no indication of foul play.
The survivor told investigators he was on the upper level of the residence and his first attempt to rescue his father on the first floor was aborted as the dense smoke forced his retreat. He then exited from the second floor exterior and attempted to re-enter the first floor but by then the smoke and flames had progressed throughout the area. He described his father as having limited mobility and a smoker who regularly exhibited unsafe smoking practices. The home was not equipped with working smoke alarms.