Despite efforts by his son to save him, a Decatur business owner died Thursday afternoon from injuries he sustained in a flash fire while he and his son were working in their motorcycle shop.
Steve Kirkes, the 45-year-old owner of Kirkes Timberframe and Woodworking, died at UAB Hospital where he had been airlifted for treatment of burns sustained in the Wednesday evening fire at the shop outside their residence on South Chapel Road.
The man’s son, Cameron Kirkes, an Austin High School football player, was injured trying to pull his father to safety, firefighters said.
Cameron Kirkes was taken by ambulance to Huntsville Hospital and was later released after being treated for minor burns.
"We're praying for him and his family," Austin football coach Jeremy Perkins said of Cameron, who’s a reserve on the team. "He'll be missed until he's able to return."
Cameron Kirkes also is a member of the Decatur-Austin Robotics Coalition.
“Cameron’s legs were burned pretty badly, but I’m thankful he’s OK," said Austin math teacher and DARC sponsor Susan Haddock. "He actually worked with his dad at the business.”
Haddock said Cameron Kirkes was driven to Birmingham to be with his father after he was released from the hospital.
“I have been talking with a really close friend who is actually in Birmingham with the family,” Haddock said Thursday afternoon.
The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately clear, Decatur Fire Marshal Jason Jones said.
“We’re unsure exactly how the gasoline vapors ignited, but they were working on some motorcycle stuff when it happened,” Jones said.
Funeral arrangements hadn’t been announced for Kirkes late Thursday.
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