Preliminary Cause of Death is Smoke Inhalation, home had no working smoke detectors
Montgomery County, Tx October 9 2009:
On October 7th, at 8:15 PM, Firefighters from the Magnolia Fire Department were dispatched to a mobile home fire at 30926 Laurel Ln. in the Hazy Hollow Subdivision near Magnolia. Upon arrival, Firefighters found heavy fire and smoke conditions throughout the home. Neighbors and the victim’s son had attempted to enter the home prior to the arrival of firefighters, but were forced back by the smoke and heat.
Firefighters brought the fire under control and found the victim deceased in her bedroom. The victim, Sandra Hargett, lived in the home with her 16 yr old son, Jack Hargett. Jack and his friends had made repeated attempts to reach her after discovering the fire.
Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Ms. Hargett died from smoke inhalation while still in her bed. An investigation by the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office revealed that the fire started on her bed, and Investigators believe that the fire resulted from smoking.
Ms. Hargett was likely overcome by smoke before she realized there was a fire, as the home had no smoke detectors. Her death is a tragedy, as it is each time someone loses their life to such an accident.
On Saturday, Sept 19th, 44 yr old New Caney resident Bill Harwood lost his life under similar circumstances when a cooking fire destroyed his mobile home in the Silver Hills Subdivision. That same weekend in New Caney, smoke detectors sounded the alarm when fire broke out early Sunday morning in the SantiBanez home. Both parents and their two small children escaped the fire, due to the early warning provided by working smoke detectors.
This is a good example of where the presence of smoke detectors saved lives by alerting the family to fire conditions in the second house fire. Unfortunately, because of the absence of smoke detectors, Bill Harwood did not receive that early warning, which most likely could have saved his life”, says Assistant Montgomery County Fire Marshal Scott Burlin
This week is National Fire Prevention Week and we urge all residents to make sure that their home is equipped with working smoke detectors. Detector batteries should be replaced at least once a year, and with the upcoming time change, remember the phrase, “Change your clocks, Change your Batteries”. Smoke detectors older than 10 years should be replaced as well. The MCFMO recommends replacing them with smoke detectors that use long life lithium batteries. The lithium batteries can last up to 10 years without changing, and can help insure that your detectors will be ready to save your life if there is a fire.
For more information about smoke detectors go to this NFPA website
