A 64-year-old disabled resident has died from injuries sustained in a fire in a home on Page Avenue in Mt. Vernon on Sunday night.
Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse has identified the victim as Robert Verhines.
Mt. Vernon Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Jennings says the initial call about the fire came in at 8:27 Sunday night and was reported as a possible structure fire due to smoke in the neighborhood. By the time firemen arrived on the scene, the house on fire had been located with flames coming from the front porch area and the adjoining first and second floors.
Jennings says when a neighbor alerted them a man was still inside, they made an aggressive attack on the fire, found the victim, and brought him out. He was then transported by Litton’s Ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital where efforts to save his life were unsuccessful.
Mt. Vernon Fire investigators have been joined by the State Fire Marshal in attempting to pinpoint the cause of the fire, but so for the blaze is listed as undetermined. Heavy damage is reported to the entire home.
The fire was so hot it melted the siding and the blinds inside the neighboring home to the north.
Jefferson Fire was called for mutual aid while Kell Firemen stood by at the Mt. Vernon Fire Station in the event of another fire.
Firemen remained on the scene until 11:13 Sunday night, with investigators not clearing the scene until two Monday morning.
