Ga. Man Dies After Wildfire Engulfs His Home

Source The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.

Dec. 23, 2012

Dec. 21--A wildfire in Aiken County is believed to have killed a Windsor man Friday afternoon.

According to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton, the victim is tentatively identified as Howard S. Simmons, 72, of Charlies Loop.

According to a news release from the coroner, witnesses said Simmons had been watching the fire, but then went inside his mobile home and did not come out when the structure caught fire.

A sister who lives nearby called 911 at 1:45 p.m. The mobile home was fully consumed, and a body was found inside afterward. Simmons was pronounced dead at 3:36 p.m.

An autopsy is scheduled Saturday, and DNA testing is expected to provide a positive identification, the coroner said. Arson investigators are reviewing the origin of the fire.