Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

Tazewell Co. man dies in house fire caused by wood-burning stove

Donald Beverly Bennett of Bluefield in Tazewell County died Friday in a fire at his rural western Virginia home, according to WVNS-TV in nearby Ghent, W.V.

A second person, Phyliss Coffey, of Morganton, N.C., was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Bluefield Regional Medical Center, according to the Richlands News-Press.

Firefighters were sent to the Bennett home, at 976 Big Branch Road, five miles outside of Bluefield, at about 11 p.m. Nov. 13. They found the home – a frame structure that had once been a log home – fully involved.

Bennett, 77, died in the fire. However, his identity was not released until it was confirmed by an autopsy.

WVNS reported that a wood-burning stove was to blame for the fire, which was ruled accidental.

Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Services has these suggestions for the safe operation of wood stoves:

• Follow the fire code or manufacturer’s clearances, whichever is greater

• Regularly inspect and clean all chimneys

• Burn dry, seasoned hardwood

• Get rid of ashes in a metal container that is covered and that is stored on the ground outside of the house

• Don’t burn paper or other trash in the wood stove

• Don’t have a single flue serve more than one appliance

• Don’t use flammable liquids like lighter fluid or gasoline to start the stove

• Don’t use artificial logs, which are known to explode.

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Labels: Bluefield Donald Bennett Donald Beverly Bennett Phyliss Coffey Tazewell County wood burning stove wood stove