Man burned in early morning grass fire
Man burned in early morning grass fire
21 February 2009
published by www.reporternews.com
USA — A 52-year-old man was severely burned in a grass fire early Saturday morning in the 100 block of East Highway 80, a fire official said.
The man was severely burned on his legs, face and arms, according to a news release.
He may have been homeless, said Abilene Fire Lt. Greg Goettsch, who, citing federal regulations, declined to identify the victim.
The man, who had apparently been sleeping in a small, makeshift shelter at the time of the fire, was treated at the scene, then taken to Hendrick Medical Center. He was later flown to a Lubbock hospital.
His condition was unknown Saturday evening.
The small fire began around 3:45 a.m. Saturday in a remote, heavily wooded area south of the highway. It was quickly brought under control by two fire crews.
A cause for the fire remains under investigation. No other injuries were reported.
Saturday’s fire marks the third within weeks in Taylor County that has caused injury or death.
Late last month, 39-year-old Michelle Edwards died in a fire at her home in the 1200 block of North 15th Street in Abilene. Her son William, 7, died later of severe injuries and burns. No cause has yet been determined for that fire.
On Tuesday, Kevin Bradshaw, 46, and his son Conner Bradshaw, 4, died in a fire that destroyed their mobile home along County Road 379 in Merkel. State fire officials believe the cause to be electrical.
