Investigators say smoking may have played role in death
State Fire Marshal investigators are determining the possible causes of a fire that killed a Luling homeowner Wednesday.
Investigators responded to 312 Canal St. after St. Charles Parish firefighters extinguished a residential fire shortly before 2 p.m. Homeowner Debra Welch, 62, called 911 to report the fire.
Firefighters later located the body of George Welch, also 62 years old, in the master bedroom of the structure, which was severely damaged by fire.
Debra Welch told investigators she was alerted by the smell of smoke, which then set off smoke alarms. Welch said she traced the origin of the smoke to a corner of the living room, adjacent to the master bedroom, where a portable oxygen tank was located.
Welch noted the top of the oxygen tank, which was present to assist her husband who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, was smoldering.
After entering the bedroom, Welch discovered a small fire burning an edge of the bed mattress where her husband was lying, unresponsive. When she could not extinguish the fire, she then attempted but could not remove her husband. She was then forced to exit the home when fire and smoke increased. She was later treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation before returning to her home.
After being examined by investigators, George Welch’s body was released to St. Charles Parish authorities for autopsy.
While a formal determination on the fire’s cause has not been confirmed, investigators have established the origin of the fire was the bedroom where George Welch was located. In addition, burn patterns and the discovery of an ashtray near the point of origin indicated the fire may have been the result of George Welch smoking while he was in the bed. Debra Welch later confirmed that her husband had routinely smoked while in bed, despite her requests to cease doing so.
The investigation is ongoing.
Be the first to comment