Updated on Monday Sept. 19, 2011 at 11:04 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 94-year-old Centralia man is dead after fire broke out inside his home and then apparently self-extinguished before it was discovered this morning.
A family member who went to check on the man at the 1400 block of Johnson Road found the occupant dead inside and called 911 about 8:45 a.m. today, according to Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walkowski.
The chief said they determined the fire had occurred sometime in the previous 24 hours, based on when the man was last seen.
The man is identified as Robert R. Zorn.
The cause is undetermined, but it’s not suspicious, Walkowski said.
He described it as a slow burning fire in the front portion of the single-story house, in the living room and dining room area.
From the outside, the only evidence there had been a fire was the windows were sooted over, he said.
It just ran out of fuel and went out, Walkowski said.
“It’s not very common, but we do see it every once in awhile,” Walkowski said.
Members of Riverside Fire Authority and the Centralia Police Department are investigating.
Walkowski said there was high heat and smoke damage to probably about 90 percent of the interior, and estimated the material loss at $15,000.
The death is apparently due to the fire, but an autopsy is expected, according to the chief.
There were smoke detectors in the house, but Walkowski took the opportunity to note the department strongly encourages detectors in each living area, including inside and outside each bedroom and on every level of a home.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter