FLORENCE — The cause of a Thursday morning house fire that killed a 69-year-old man has been determined as improper disposal of smoking materials, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
Craig A. Nehring, whose identity was confirmed by a death notice sent to the Gazette, was removed from the house at 45 Carolyn St. by Northampton firefighters but died at the hospital, according to a press release from the fire marshal’s office.
Neighbors said that Nehring was the only person living in the house at the time.
An investigation found that the fire started between two recliners, where there was “ample evidence of smoking in that area,” according to the release. Other causes aside from smoking were also ruled out.
Investigators also discovered that two battery-powered smoke alarms were missing batteries, and no carbon monoxide alarms were found in the home.
In a statement, Northampton Fire Chief Duane Nichols offered “heartfelt condolences to the family,” adding, “This is a sad way to lose a loved one.”
While full data for 2018 is not yet available, Jennifer Mieth, a spokesperson for the fire marshal’s office, said that smoking was the leading cause of home fire deaths in 2017, comprising 31 percent of fire deaths in homes that year.
“Lots of times people improperly discard smoking materials, whether it’s inside or outside,” Mieth said, noting that there has also been a rise in outdoor fires caused by improper disposal in locations such as stoops, trash bins, porches and leaves beside buildings.
“We see a lot of smoking fires outside of the building, which of course also go undetected for a long time and are a lot more serious,” she added. “They get a real hold of the building.”
A lack of working smoke alarms also play a significant role in fires becoming deadly, Mieth said.
“It is a very common factor in fatal fires that people just did not get the early warning to get out safely,” Mieth said. “For five or six bucks down at the local hardware store it can really make a difference, or even just a buck and a half for a new 9-volt battery.”
“New year, new battery,” she continued. “It’s a great time to make sure your smoke alarms are working as we go into the winter fire season.”
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey also stressed the importance of working fire alarms, noting in a statement, “Working smoke alarms are your first line of defense against fire.”
“It is important to make sure you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home to provide early warning of danger,” he continued.
Mieth also encouraged smokers to take advantage of the increasing amount of resources dedicated to quitting.
The fire was investigated by the Northampton Police and Fire Departments, state police assigned to the Northwestern district attorney’s and state fire marshal’s offices, and was also assisted by state police Crime Scene Services and Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance and Enforcement Unit.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.