Livingston County investigating death on the river
January 6, 2018
WPSD Staff
UPDATE: The coroner’s office says 38-year-old Robert Bradley Dawson of Oak Grove, Louisiana fell off a company barge into the river.
Dawson fell off a company barge into the river about two miles south of the Smithland Lock and Dam.
Dawson worked for Kirby Inland Marine.
Investigators say he was pronounced dead at the scene; his death was accidental.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, KY – Livingston County coroner’s office is investigating a death that occurred on the river.
A deputy said it is an accidental, work-related death, not criminal or suspicious.
The person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators cannot release a name at this time, but did say the person fell off a company barge around 3:15 PM Saturday, January 6th.
Investigators were not able to release the cause of death.
The coroner’s office was assisted by Livingston County Emergency Management, EMS, and Smithland fire department.
We will update this story with information as it comes in.
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY, KY (KFVS) -
A barge worker has died in what's being called a work-related accident in Livingston County, Kentucky.
According to the coroner, it happened on Saturday, Jan. 6 around 2 p.m.
A 38-year-old Louisiana man fell off of a barge into the Ohio River.
It happened about two miles south of the Smithland Lock and Dam.
The man was pulled from the river shortly after he fell.
The coroner said the man died at the scene and his death is ruled as an accident.
Fire Prevention
Our study of mobile home fires found the number one cause of accidental
mobile home fires to be inadequate maintenance of the home's mechanical
system. Other frequent causes: carelessness and accidents.
Proper Maintenance Can Prevent Fires
Several mechanical systems in a mobile home require maintenance. These systems include heating equipment such as furnaces, flues, fireplaces, space heaters, woodstoves, water heaters,
kitchen stoves, as well as electrical systems and electrical
appliances. The bad news: if these systems aren't properly maintained,
the potential for fire increases. The good news: fires in all these
systems are preventable. The information here will help you decrease
the chance of having a fire in your mobile home.
Carelessness
Storing all matches and lighters out of the reach of children can
prevent a tragedy. Fires caused by a mobile homeowner's carelessness,
such as a grease fire or a fire that started because flammable liquids
were stored inside the mobile home, are also preventable.
An Ounce of Prevention Could be Worth a Life
- Fire Drills. It's important to hold family fire drills at
least two times a year. If you have very young or elderly people in
your mobile home, assign someone to help them. If there's a fire, get
everyone out of the home, then call the fire department.
-
Exit Windows. Make sure at least one window in every
bedroom can be used for easy and fast escape in case of fire. Don't
attempt to reach the front or rear door during a fire — always use a
window as your exit.
To exit from a window, slide it up or sideways and remove the
screen. Kick the screen out if you need to. If your mobile home has
crank-out style jalousie or awning quick-exit windows, remove the
interior storm sash by turning the pivot clips. Trip the exit latches at
the window sill and slide the window open or open it at the hinges and
make your exit. If there's no trip latch on the window or no time to
open it, break it with a chair, lamp or shoe and get out.
- Fire Extinguishers. Keep one fire extinguisher in the
kitchen and another near the furnace. Make sure they're multi-purpose,
dry-chemical extinguishers, suitable for class A, B and C fires. Teach
all family members how to operate them. Small home fire extinguishers
operate for only five to ten seconds, so be sure of your aim.
-
Smoke Detectors. Mobile homes built since 1976 come
equipped with smoke detectors. If your home doesn't have smoke
detectors, you need one high on the wall or ceiling adjacent to bedroom
areas. Place another in the kitchen. Check your smoke detectors once a
month by pressing the test button. Replace the battery in each smoke
detector at least once a year. Never remove the battery except when
replacing it. If your smoke detector is a photo unit, replace the bulbs
every three years. Keep the grill of the detector free of dirt by
dusting and vacuuming it regularly.
If your home's smoke detectors are powered by electricity, add at
least one detector that's battery powered in case of power outages.
- Be Careful Not to Overload Electrical Circuits. Lights
that flicker or dim indicate trouble that must be corrected. When
replacing fuses, install only recommended fuses. Use fuses and breakers
that are the proper size for the wire. A ground monitor is a valuable
tool for locating any shorts or other problems in the electrical system.
If you are inexperienced in working with electricity, don't try to
correct electrical problems yourself. Call a qualified electrician.
- Don't Overextend an Electrical Outlet with Extension Cords.
Replace frayed or broken electrical cords. Make sure all appliances are
properly installed. Buy electrical appliances and equipment approved by
a certified testing laboratory. Never run cords under rugs. Keep dust
from accumulating on televisions, electrical equipment and appliances.
Note These Additional Tips
- Store flammable liquids in approved containers outside the mobile home.
- Never place combustible material under your mobile home — that includes bales of hay or straw.
- Check for worn spots on any heat tape that covers water pipes.
- Ground your television antenna to prevent damage from a lightning strike.
- Keep your yard tidy and free of debris.
- Don't plug multiple items into the same electrical outlet or circuit.
- Make sure lightbulbs are the recommended wattage for all of your light fixtures.
- Keep baking soda near your stove to extinguish grease fires.
- Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Don't smoke in bed or when you're drowsy. Run butts and ashes under water before disposing.
- Never install a double cylinder deadbolt lock on your exit doors. They require a key to unlock from the inside.
- Never use an extension cord on a permanent basis and avoid running them under rugs.
- Never leave home with the clothes dryer running. Clean dryer
vents frequently and clean lint screens after each load to keep the
airway clear.
- Make regular safety checks of your mobile home's major systems. Check for cleanliness, proper functioning and loose connections.
- Never block doors or windows with furniture or other large objects.
- Supplemental heating units like electrical space heaters,
fireplaces, kerosene heaters and woodstoves can be dangerous. Be sure
each device is approved for use in a home. Turn them off before you
leave or go to sleep.
Take Action if a Fire Strikes
Smoke and toxic fumes are the leading cause of death in fires. That's
why it's so important to get out immediately and stay out.
- Don't try to fight your own fire. Leave immediately and call for help from a neighbor's home.
- The clearest air is 12 to 24 inches above the floor, so crawl to the nearest safe exit.
- Carefully touch the bottom of all doors before opening them. If they're hot, don't open them. Find another way out.
- If your clothes catch fire, don't run. Stop, drop to the ground,
cover your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs, and roll
until you smother the flames. Remember: stop-drop-and-roll.
January 2, 2018
TACOMA, Wash. —
Investigators say flammable materials ignited on a wall heater, causing a fire that killed a man in Tacoma.
About 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, crews were called to the Spanish Hills Apartments at 6409 S 12th Street.
During their investigation, an adult’s body was found inside a burned apartment on the ground floor.
The person was identified as 39-year-old Lonnie Malone. Authorities say he lived alone.
No other injuries were reported.
Tacoma Fire said the fire started on the ground floor and was contained to only one unit.
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TACOMA, Wash. – Three people have died in house fires in just the past week across Western Washington.
A woman in Federal Way died last week, and a man in Spanaway and another man in Tacoma died this week when fires broke out in their homes.
Firefighters believe the cold weather could have played a part.
It may sound like a broken record but firefighters say the message is important and could save lives. No matter how you stay warm in these cold temperatures, firefighters say there are steps you can take to keep your family safe.
Firefighters responded to Spanish Hills Apartments in Tacoma early Tuesday morning to put out a reported fire.
But sadly the 39-year-old renter, Lonnie Malone, died. Neighbors told Q13 News he used to work for the apartment complex.
Firefighters say radiant heat from his baseboard heater ignited materials and started the fire.
First responders pulled another man from a fire in his Spanaway mobile home only hours later, but 66-year-old Orville Stancil died later at the hospital.
Investigators believe a space heater hooked up to a faulty extension cord could be to blame.
And last week 69-year-old Carol Halder died inside her Federal Way apartment after it caught fire but officials don’t yet know the cause.
“During the winter season, while folks are paying attention to their heating, they also need to pay attention to safety and injury prevention aspect to home heating,” said Tacoma Fire Department’s Joe Meinecke.
Firefighters say anything that could catch fire should be stored at least 3-feet away from heaters.
Plus, all portable heaters should be UL-certified and never be left running while you’re asleep.
“For best practices, use portable heaters directly into your outlets into your wall and one at a time only,” said Meinecke. “Don’t put more one in there and don’t use extension cords or power strips, directly into the wall is best.”
Firefighters say now is also a good time to double check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Plus, if the equipment is ten-years-old now is the time to replace them.
Statistics to share
- Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms
- More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
- The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.
Source: National Fire Protection Association
