Video: Fatal Fire Investigation Turns Up No Sign Of Foul Play

PONTOTOC, MISS. (WCBI) – Investigators believe the blaze started near a badly damaged sofa, that was sitting outside the apartment.

“It either started on the carpet directly in front of the sofa, or on the sofa cushions itself,” said Pontotoc Fire Chief Lance Martin.  The chief said 57 year old Bruce Hunter died at the scene from toxic smoke inhalation. Hunter had been staying at the apartment for about a week, according to neighbors. 55 year old Thomas Foreman had lived in the apartment for more than a year. Foreman was taken to a Memphis hospital.

“The exact cause is still 100 percent undetermined right now, we have ruled out it being electrical or any accelerant use. Right now, unless new information comes forward, everything points to a cigarette that possibly could have started the fire,” Chief Martin said.

The chief believes the fire was smoldering for about 90 minutes before it was reported. He says there was a smoke detector in the apartment, but it was damaged. Residents say smoke alarms are checked on a regular basis.

“The smoke alarms we have is in our hallways, it gets to at least one room and bathroom and living room. There’s a wall that covers in the kitchen, but I’m sure we can hear it because when they test it, it’s pretty loud,” said Donna Walls, who has lived at the Pontotoc Park Apartments for three years and says the community is close knit and now,  grieving in the wake of the city’s first fire death in more than a decade.

And Chief Martin encourages people to be sure cigarettes are extinguished before they go to sleep. He also points out the apartment was equipped with a fire extinguisher.