A woman died and her husband was injured in an early morning fire today in Northeast Polk County near Davenport, Fl.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, the woman who died in the fire was Angela Christine Creech, 41, who lived at the home with her husband, James Creech, 44, the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.
Angela Creech was declared dead at the scene, while her husband escaped from the burning structure, the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.
He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, in Orlando, FL where he is in stable condition.
An autopsy to determine Angela Creech's cause of death will be conducted later today, the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.
Her husband suffered burns and smoke inhalation, and was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital, said Heather Smith, spokeswoman for Polk County Fire Rescue.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is conducting a death investigation while the State Fire Marshal's Office is seeking to determine the cause of the fire.
The fire in the singlewide mobile home at 230 Water Oak Lane was reported about 4:50 this morning, said Heather Smith, spokeswoman for the Polk County Fire Rescue stated.
The home is at the end of a private road in what appears to be a family compound screened by trees.
A neighbor who was contacted by phone said she was a family member and that the family would not be commenting.
Smith stated people should check the smoke detectors in their homes twice a month to ensure they are operating properly.
According to the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office, there are more than 209 fires in Florida homes every day. Forty percent start in the kitchen, over 22 percent are caused by faulty wiring, followed by careless smoking, children playing with matches or lighters, and unattended heating devices.
More than two-thirds of Florida's fire fatalities are age 40 and over, followed by those age 70 and over.
One of the most shocking statistics is that smoke detectors are not present or are inoperative in over 52 percent of these homes.
This is a real tragedy for the Smith family. It is often a tragic accident such as this which gives rise to a personal injury claim. A crucial step in the analysis is to identify the owner of the property and the owner's relationship to the injured. If, for example, the victim is a tenant, then the victim could possibly have a claim for damages as a result of the injuries sustained in the fire. Of course, this is just the first of many steps in the analysis. In my practice as a personal injury lawyer practicing in Winter Haven, FL, I represent the injured. If you have been injured, please call me at (877) 299-5539 to schedule a free case review.
