FORT SMITH -- A Fort Smith man died from a fire in his apartment Sunday that a fire official said probably occurred as a result of smoking in bed.
Fire Marshal Ronnie Rogers said Larry Jinks, 62, died about 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith after he was pulled from his burning apartment at the complex at 4001 Rogers Ave.
He said residents at the complex saw smoke coming from the apartment and found Jinks in a bed on fire in his living room. Rogers said Jinks had an oxygen generator in the apartment, but it is suspected that smoking in bed caused the fire.
Someone called 911 about 12:30 p.m. while several people used fire extinguishers to try to put out the fire, he said.
When firefighters arrived, they doused the burning bed and got Jinks out of the apartment.
Fire and smoke damage was confined to Jinks' apartment, Rogers said. He estimated the damage at $2,500.
Metro on 07/28/2015