Saline Valley firefighters rescued an older couple from a house fire Sunday, Sept. 6, but the man later died in an area hospital. The Regional Medical Examiner's Office identified the man at noon today, Sept. 8, as 80-year-old Duane Nixon.
According to a written statement issued by district officials, the district received a call about 3:30 p.m. about the blaze at a single-family residence on Jeannette Drive in the Arnold area.
“Crews immediately initiated fire attack and rescue operations, removing an 80-year-old man who uses a wheelchair and his 90-year-old wife from the residence,” the statement said.
Nixon later died in an area hospital “most likely of smoke inhalation,” said Ryan Lesh, the Saline Valley fire marshal.
The woman, who suffered burns, also was transported to an area hospital and remained at the hospital as of this morning, Sept. 8, Lesh said.
He said firefighters remained on the scene until about 8:40 p.m. The fire was contained to the house, he said.
“The house will be totaled,” Lesh said of the fire damage.
The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating because a fatality occurred, he said.
He said the cause of the fire that apparently started in the garage remains under investigation, but it is not considered suspicious.
The Antonia, High Ridge, Mehlville, Cedar Hill and Mapaville fire districts, Rock Township Ambulance District and Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted with the incident.