Fire investigators are still trying to figure out what sparked the blaze at 4 Lakeview Ave. Tuesday evening, but have determined it began in the kitchen of a first-floor apartment.
According to an obituary released by the Lind Funeral Home, Paul Kennedy, 47, is the man who was found dead inside the second-floor apartment. His autopsy was finished Wednesday, and the official cause of death could be released today.
Around 5:42 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters were called to the home and upon arrival, they were told everyone made it out safely. They battled the fire, which due to the age of the house and the construction of the building, spread quickly to the upper floors and through the roof.
More than an hour after firefighters arrived on the scene, a woman approached Bill Johnston, Jamestown Fire Department battalion chief, saying a person might still be inside, although he was initially believed to have escaped. Firefighters again searched the building and with the information she provided, he was found.
The man was taken to WCA Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Battalion Chief Sam Salemme said that although he didn't know exactly what happened to the man found inside the building, there are a few steps people can take to limit their chances of injury or death in a fire.
"People should plan escape routes and always make sure their smoke detectors are working," he said. "In apartment buildings like the one in question, they are required to be hard-wired into the home. But people should never take them for granted and make sure they are working."
Salemme said people should also have simple evacuation plans that culminate with the group or family meeting in a safe place where they can all account for one another.
When more information about the cause of death and the fire investigation becomes available throughout the day, it will be posted online at www.post-journal.com.
