One person was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia following an early morning house fire in Centralia.
Centralia City Firefighters say the fire was blowing out two second-story windows of the home in the 200 block of South Cherry upon their arrival. The fire caused heavy damage to the second floor and attic of the home with smoke and water damage on the first floor.
The man taken to the hospital for treatment has been identified as Paul Beaty. He was transported via Lifestar Ambulance to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and was later airlifted to a burn center for treatment of moderate to severe burns.
Firemen say a second person who was also believed to be in the home at the time of the fire was sitting on the curb when firemen arrived. They initially thought that person also went to the hospital for treatment, but hospital officials later indicated only one person arrived at the hospital for treatment.
The fire is believed to have started in a second-story bedroom. The State Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to investigate the cause.
The fire call came in at 5:40 Friday morning. Firemen were on the scene for about two and a half hours.
All available Centralia City Firefighters were called in and the Centralia Fire Protection District provided mutual aid at the scene. Kell firemen stood by at the Centralia City Fire Department in the event of another fire.
(The story has been updated to include the name of the fire victim and that the second person believed injured never arrived at the hospital.)
