CHEHALIS, Wash. (AP) -- A man died of injuries from a downtown apartment fire that started after he apparently dozed off while smoking, municipal fire investigators say.
Steven Bates, 52, was found on the floor of his small studio apartment Sunday night and died Monday morning at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
''I think we pretty much narrowed it down to he was smoking in bed,'' Pete McChord of the Fire Department said Monday evening.
Damage to the building was estimated by firefighters at $50,000.
Michael Pallas, 52, said he owns the seven-unit building with his father, Harry Pallas, and had known Bates since high school in Chehalis. Bates had worked as a carpenter and was scheduled to have back surgery soon, he said.
''He was a kindhearted guy,'' Pallas said. ''He'd do anything for you.''
Firefighters inspected the building about a month ago, and Fire Capt. Casey Beck said those who escaped may owe their lives to working smoke alarms as well as to a quick response by fire crews.
Firefighters were on the scene within two minutes after being called and immediately deployed a new truck loaded with foam mixed with water rather than taking the time to hook up to a fire hydrant, Beck said.
''The fire was ready to explode,'' Assistant Chief Bill Nacht said.
Information from: The Chronicle
