Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 14, 1994 TAG: 9401140252
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Fred Bowman of Cornell Drive Northwest suffered third-degree burns to his face and hands.
He was transferred Thursday afternoon from Roanoke Memorial Hospital to the burn center at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was listed in critical condition.
Fire investigators said Bowman had a open container of gasoline near his oil furnace. They believe that when the furnace clicked on, the spark ignited the gasoline fumes.
The basement was locked when firefighters arrived. There appeared to be little ventilation.
District Fire Chief James Patton said smoke was rolling from the front door of the house. Flames were shooting out the basement windows.
Bowman's wife, who is recovering from an operation, was standing in the front yard, yelling "He's in the basement."
Patton said he had to break the lock on an aluminum storm door to get into the basement. A wooden door also was locked and had to be kicked open.
The smoke in the basement was so thick that firefighters could not see Bowman at first. Patton and another firefighter, Willie Wines, searched the basement until Wines found Bowman lying near the work bench.
Wines carried Bowman out the door and asked him if anyone else was inside.
"No," Bowman said, struggling for air.
He apparently had taken a deep breath when the flames hit him. His dentures were covered with soot and had to be removed for him to breath.
Firefighters found a burning gasoline can in the basement.
Patton estimated damage to the house at $15,000. Windows in the basement were shattered by the heat, and rafters were charred by the blaze.
Many of the power tools on Bowman's workbench had melted.
by CNB