Tulsa World: Partially disabled man is killed in house fire

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Partially disabled man is killed in house fire
It appears that he tried to escape but was overcome.

Fire Capt. Tony Woods (right) talks with a police officer after a fatal house fire in the 1500 block of South Gilette Avenue early Friday. A man died after his bed caught fire, officials said. An investigator found smoking materials nearby. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 11/21/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/21/2009 5:07 AM

A partially disabled man apparently died from smoke inhalation while trying to escape from his home after his bed caught fire Friday morning.

Billy Martin McCoy, 55, was found collapsed on the floor near his bedroom in his home in the 1500 block of South Gillette Avenue, Tulsa Fire Department spokesman Bill French said.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the bed to catch fire, but French said an investigator found smoking materials nearby.

McCoy lived alone in one of three residences in a triplex. None of the other units was affected.

Firefighters arrived about 9:30 a.m. after a woman in an adjacent unit called to report a burning smell.

They searched the building and found thick smoke in McCoy's residence, French said.

The firefighters kicked in a door and used thermal-imaging cameras to locate McCoy, who previously had suffered a stroke and had limited mobility, French said.

It appeared that McCoy had tried to get outside but was overcome by the smoke and hot air.

He was in cardiac arrest when firefighters got to him and likely had been lying in the smoky room for some time, French said.

Medics performed CPR in a side yard before taking McCoy to Hillcrest Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

It wasn't clear whether a smoke detector was installed in the house, but French said a carbon-monoxide detector in an adjacent unit had activated about 45 minutes before the fire was reported.

French said improperly discarded cigarettes have started a handful of recent fires that have displaced several residents.

Matt Barnard 581-8408
matt.barnard@tulsaworld.com By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Officials identify Tulsa fatal house fire victim," which was published on 11/20/2009.

	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/20/2009 10:22:43 AM) God bless our brave firemen....... .......They tell me they are running severely short staffed while the department is top-heavy with three deputy chiefs.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (11/20/2009 10:29:42 AM) I wonder where the article is about the meth lab found at a hotel near 51st & Memorial last night? Not sure if there was a fire or not there.
	Report Comment Ryanoceros, Tulsa (11/20/2009 10:31:22 AM) Are these recent fires from Christmas decor going up or what?
	Report Comment okierose, Tulsa County (11/20/2009 10:59:45 AM) Mar: I saw on TV there wasn't a fire at the hotel. TPD were serving a warrant and noticed a smell.
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (11/20/2009 11:09:18 AM) Thank the good Lord for our firemen. And I would have to ask the same question as (Ryanoceros). I do not understand why there are so many fires going on right now?
	Report Comment houston, Tulsa (11/20/2009 11:24:30 AM) So what I want to know is? 1. Was this city vehicle (fire truck) parked at the firemens house? 2. Was this city vehicle (ambulance) parked at the medics house? Give it up TPD & FOP...The City of Tulsa cars and equipment need to stay in the City of Tulsa. Return the equipment (cars that you should not have in the first place) to the city, or move into the city, or quit....pretty simple
	Report Comment fld11, (11/20/2009 11:39:58 AM) Wow, this is such big news CNN is probably on the way. Actually, nobody cares about this small town stuff.
	Report Comment BS, (11/20/2009 12:17:31 PM) fld11, why don't you try showing some compassion for the person that died and for the firemen that risk their lives on a daily basis. You're a joke!
	Report Comment jestergrl1, Stillwater (11/20/2009 12:29:06 PM) Fld11, if this story is such small town stuff, why are you reading the article and then commenting? The story must have peaked your interest. And, by the way, WE do care about the small town stuff.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (11/20/2009 12:43:16 PM) My prayers to the family.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/20/2009 1:13:00 PM) My condolences to the family and loved ones.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/20/2009 1:13:32 PM) Mar, did your mother have any children that lived?
	Report Comment SteveBrown777, tulsa (11/20/2009 1:29:11 PM) Fld11, most people in this town want to know when someone dies in an accident. What if it was your loved one?
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (11/20/2009 1:38:26 PM) fld11, really? This is our town and we would like to know what's going on. Wouldn't you?
	Report Comment makattack, Tulsa (11/20/2009 1:56:25 PM) ...for the person that died and for the firemen that risk ...have any children that lived? I really miss the pronoun 'who'.
	Report Comment upinarms, Tulsa (11/20/2009 4:11:54 PM) Tragic. I wonder if the carbon monoxide detector was just disarmed after it went off, as maybe the person in that unit couldn't detect a fire or anything else going on...too bad, as 45 mins might have made a difference. But what can you do if your CO2 detector goes off, wake up everybody else on the slight chance there's a problem, other than your detector? Not really.
	Report Comment upinarms, Tulsa (11/20/2009 4:12:45 PM) I meant, CO, not CO2.
	Report Comment okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (11/20/2009 10:54:02 PM) My condolences to his family. Fld11, People are people in a smaller town just like they are in a large city.and a lot of small towns help make up a state.I have lived in and went to school in and worked in a very large city. and i am here to tell you the news there was not any more important than small town news. and the people were not any better are smarter. Fld11, if your stupid comment was to get your self more attention. you did it.at leaste smaller town peope have compassion.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/20/2009 10:56:12 PM) My condolences to the family and friends.
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/20/2009 11:01:52 PM) Very sad, my condolences to his family and friends for your tragic loss.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/21/2009 4:24:13 AM) Smoking kills.

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