THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110108
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: CAMPTOWN LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
A house fire, believed to have been caused by a wood stove heater, killed a 64-year-old Camptown man Thursday, Isle of Wight Sheriff C.W. Phelps said Friday.
Jessie Artis of the 300 block of Pocahontas Avenue was found lying on the living room floor about 2 p.m. Thursday after a neighbor reported seeing smoke coming from the residence. Phelps said Artis lived by himself.
Fire officials have ruled the blaze accidental.
The flames burned through the walls of a corner room containing the wood stove, just off the kitchen, Phelps said. Several rooms were badly damaged by the blaze, he said.
``Artis was believed to have been asleep in the living room at the time the fire broke out. Because he was found on the floor, we believe he woke up and tried to get out of the house, but was overcome by smoke,'' Phelps said.
``It was a hot fire. And there was a lot of smoke damage.''
Phelps said neighbors saw Artis taking wood into his house about 45 minutes before the fire was reported.
The last fire-related death in Isle of Wight was about three years ago when a woman died in a house in the southern end of the county, near Camptown, Phelps said.
KEYWORDS: FIRE FATALITY by CNB