Ironton Fire Department crews battled an early morning blaze Thursday as flames ripped through parts of a single story Ironton home.

Friday, November 24, 2000

Ironton Fire Department crews battled an early morning blaze Thursday as flames ripped through parts of a single story Ironton home.

Amos Thomas, 85, was found dead inside the house.

Firefighters responded to 902 S. 10th St. home after a Lawrence County 911 call at 7:15 a.m. and began their initial attack on the fire within a few short minutes of the dispatch, Capt. Mike Hasenauer said.

"A neighbor reported the fire to 911," Hasenauer said. "We received report of a house filled with smoke and that’s mainly what we saw when we arrived. There was very little flame showing, initially."

The fire began in the living room and spread to several other areas.

of the house just outside the room, he said.

"There was a small amount of damage to the kitchen area, just off the living room, and some damage to the hallway area," he added. "But the majority of the fire was contained to the living room area."

While fighting the blaze, fire crews found Thomas, Hasenauer said.

"He was an elderly gentleman who apparently lived alone," he said. "The actual cause of his death is still undetermined. At this time, we are unable to say the fire was directly related to the cause of death."

Two fire trucks and 11 personnel responded to the scene of the fire.

"We did call out an off-duty crew to assist," Hasenauer said.

Crews spent more than two hours fighting the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he added.

"Our investigator, Jim Monte, has inspected the scene and a representative from the state fire marshal’s office will assist in investigating the cause of the fire," Hasenauer said. "Maybe there will be something more definitive after that."