Smoking in bed caused fatal Emmett, Idaho fire
By Katy Moeller
kmoeller@idahostatesman.com
May 16, 2018
An Emmett man lost his life last week due to smoking materials that ignited his bed, the Idaho state fire marshal said Wednesday.
Eric Brockbank, 54, was killed in the May 10 house fire. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. May 16 at the Bramwell Cemetery near Emmett, according to his obituary. Potter Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.
State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl said in a press release Wednesday that investigators from his office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that "careless use of smoking materials" caused the fire.
"Evidence indicates that Mr. Brockbank fell asleep in bed while smoking, only to be awakened by the fire. Because of his diminished mobility, Mr. Brockbank was unable to escape the fire and was killed," the release says.
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Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl has announced that the cause of a fire that took the life of Emmett resident Eric Brockbank has been determined. Sandahl said investigators from his office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined that careless use of smoking materials caused the fire that took Brockbank’s life. Evidence indicates that Mr. Brockbank fell asleep in bed while smoking, only to be awakened by the fire. Because of his diminished mobility, Mr. Brockbank was unable to escape the fire and was killed. https://doi.idaho.gov/DisplayPDF?Id=5029
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Man who died in Emmett house fire identified
The Associated Press
May 12, 2018 09:53 AM
BOISE, Idaho
Emmett officials have identified the man who died in a house fire.
KBOI-TV reports that the man was identified as Eric Brockbank.
Emmett City Fire Chief Curt Christensen says crews responded to the Thursday house fire within minutes, but were not able to reach the person who lived at the residence.
A dog was also inside the house at the time of the fire. It was given CPR and is recovering.
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Emmett, ID
Emmett City Fire responded to the fire on the 900 block of E. Main Street after a neighbor called firefighters around 2:00 this afternoon.
Emmett City Fire Chief Curt Christensen said firefighters responded within minutes, but the back side of the home was in flames when they arrived and they were not able to rescue the person living in the home.
When firefighters got inside, they said they found the elderly man dead inside his bedroom. According to Emmett City Fire, that's where the fire started.
The Fire Marshall was called out here to investigate the cause.
"Due to the nature of this call, and that there was a fatality. We want to have his office come over so he brought himself and he brought over three other investigators to help us with just to make sure it was handled appropriately," said Curtis Christensen, the Emmett Fire Chief.
Curtis said the fire was started by some type of smoking device. A dog was also inside the house at the time. Firefighters were able to give it CPR and it looks like it is going to be OK.
The fire chief said the man lived alone, and does not appear to have any family in the area.
Right now they're working to track down family.
The name of the deceased will be released after next of kin is notified. The fire remains under investigation.