WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem Fire officials said a man died in a house fire late Sunday.
Crews responded to a home on Hunter Avenue shortly after 11 p.m.
When they arrived, they found Ruben Noel, 76, in the bedroom. According to a release, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said the fire was accidentally ignited by smoking materials while on home oxygen.
WSFD urges citizens to have working smoke detectors in their homes and change the batteries at least once per year.
Quincy Jackson Sr., Assistant Fire Marshall said, "It doesn't prevent a fire. It won't prevent an accident, but it will add to the probability of you remaining safe in that accident." Jackson Sr. continued, "with the modern homes, how they're built and the type of furniture and appliances that are in the homes, they're very plastic based. If they're not plastic based, they use some type of synthetic plastic, which burns a lot faster and a lot quicker and a lot hotter. Meaning usually you have between two to three minutes tops from the time that smoke alarm was to go off for you to be able to escape safely."
The department also urges citizens to sleep with their bedroom doors shut, as it can buy critical time to escape or await rescue by the fire department.
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