A fire on Christmas Eve left an East Ridge man in critical condition, and he died at Erlanger Hospital on Christmas morning.
The victim was Joseph Roueche Sr., 79.
East Ridge Fire and Police units responded at 11:14 p.m. to a reported structure fire at 3603 Wimberly Lane.
Fire Rescue units arrived in just three minutes to find heavy fire and smoke showing from a one-and-a-half-story house.
Firefighters began attacking the fire and the first crew to make entry into the house located a victim in a hallway and quickly extricated him to the front yard of the structure where other firefighters began emergency medical treatment. They were soon joined by a crew from LifeGuard Ambulance Service.
Mr. Roueche was transported to Erlanger by LifeGuard EMS in critical condition.
At first firefighters believed that Mr. Roueche’s wife might also be trapped and four different search teams performed multiple primary and secondary searches under heavy smoke conditions using thermal imaging cameras in an effort to locate any other victims. A second alarm was called to bring extra manpower to the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by East Ridge Fire/Arson investigators. The fire appears to have started in a bedroom and spread into the hallway and upwards into the attic. The preliminary investigation found that Mr. Roueche apparently discovered the fire and attempted to fight it with a garden hose before he was overcome with heat and smoke.
The fire is estimated to have caused at least $75,000 damage.
Units responding on the first and second alarms included East Ridge Engine 1, Engine 2, Quint 1, Squad 2, Support 1, Rescue 1 and Rescue 2. Fort Oglethorpe Engine 10, Catoosa County Engine 3, Rossville Engine 3, the Hamilton County Rescue Squad and LifeGuard EMS.
It turned out that the victim's wife had gone to a late Christmas program at church with her son and then out to eat.
Authorities located her and she went to the hospital Wednesday night late with the rest of the family.