Skip to main content

Smoking blamed for fatal fire on Davis Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

Investigators have determined that the fatal fire early this morning at 10 Davis Ave., Batavia, was caused by "careless use of smoking materials, i.e., cigarettes and lighters."

The fire, first reported around 2 a.m., took the life of 87-year-old George A. McConnell.

McConnell's wife, Candace McConnell, was not injured in the fire.

George was apparently unable to exit his second-floor bedroom after the fire started. Candace made her way to the first-floor back porch and was assisted from the house by Officer Darryl Streeter.

The fire investigation was conducted by the Batavia Fire Department and the Batavia Police Department.

Previously: Fire on Davis Avenue claims life of 87-year-old resident

Kyle Couchman

I think the "specific" information to be had here is one of safety. Make sure your smoke detectors work, make sure you know where to go when they do go off in the middle of the night. And dont ever try to fight the fire yourself, this isnt like a kitchen/stove fire that can be as immediately extinguished as quickly as they start.

Twice in my life I have lost everything I owned due to a building fire. But both times, in both buildings no one lost their life because of smoke alarms and knowing exits.

Nov 13, 2013, 5:56am Permalink
Billie Owens

And I'm pretty sure such specificity was not in the press release, Alvin. Besides, I don't think who smoked or who didn't is relevant.

Nov 14, 2013, 3:32pm Permalink
Steve Hackett

I was in a fire back in 1986 in oakfield.... Cars corners pizza shop was downstairs from where we lived in the building... Somebody set the fire in what we called " the wood Pyle ", that was attached to our building...they never found out, for sure, who it was..thankfully nobody perished, but the scars never go away....no insurance, we lost everything...

Nov 14, 2013, 6:45pm Permalink

Authentically Local