Update: The victim of the house fire is 65 year old Charles Swift, Sr. Preliminary autopsy report shows smoke inhalation and possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Preliminary reports believe the fire started in the attic.
The cause of a house fire in Orangefield Friday morning that took the life of a white male is under investigation. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will be handling the investigation with the state fire marshal.
Criminal Investigator Janois Grizzaffi with the Sheriff’s Office said the fire was called in shortly after 7:00 AM, and 20 to 30 fire fighters from several fire departments including Emergency Services Districts One, Two, Three, and Four responded. Trucks from the Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department were used to extinguish the fire in the house at 3613 Dronett about a block across the street from the Orangefield High School.
After the flames were knocked down Grizzaffi stated fire fighters went into the structure and found a white male deceased inside. She indicated the son of the deceased man and other family members were in the house at the time of the fire and were able to exit without any serious injuries.
Other arson investigators are assisting in the investigation according to Grizzaffi. Justice of the Peace Joy Dubose-Simonton arrived at the scene around 9:00 AM and pronounced the man in his mid-60s deceased. Dubose-Simonton has ordered an autopsy and a preliminary report of the cause of death will be faxed to the judge in the next 24 to 48 hours. The final report of the cause of death will take six to eight weeks.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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