Man burned in Winnabow fire dies

WINNABOW, NC (WWAY) — The Brunswick County fire marshal has released the final report in now the second fatal fire in one week in the county.

Scott Garner said this morning the fire that occurred Tuesday on Gordon Lewis Drive has been ruled accidental. That fire, which occurred around 10:30 a.m., severely burned two people. Garner said those victims have been identified as Michael Powell, 51, and his mother Sandra Powell, 70. Michael Powell was transported to the NC Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Chapel Hill the day of the incident. He died Tuesday evening at the burn center, Garner said.

According to the news release, the fire was started on the wood stove when Michael poured a liquid to maintain the fire. Fire officials first thought it was diesel but now say they’re unable to determine due to the nature of the flash fire. They said diesel typically doesn’t cause a flash fire like what happened.

Garner added after Michael’s clothes caught fire, Mike went thru the house to the bathroom and extinguished himself, with the help of Sandra Powell. Family friend Lisa Robins said that’s how Sandra was injured.

“She was worried about him, but I think he was watching out for her,” Robins said.

Garner and Robins said Mike returned to the room where the heater and fire was located and put that fire out to keep it from spreading to the rest of the home.

“He would have done anything for anyone,” Robins said.

There were five people inside the home at the time; only two were burned. There were working smoke alarms in the home, Garner said.

This week, Garner says there have been six accidental house fire from the cold weather, but some of them could have been prevented. Three people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a fire near Holden Beach Monday.

Either through maintenance of a normal HVAC system in the home or making sure there is a good clearance around space heaters that they were using,” Garner said.

But now for the Powell family, Robins says they’re staying strong for Sandy.

“She’s always got a house full of kids,” Robins said. “She’s everybody’s grandma, everybody’s mom. We are just getting everything cleaned so she can come home.”

Sandra Powell is now at the Jaycee Burn Center undergoing surgery. Her condition is not known.

The family has set up a go fund me account for Sandy’s rehab costs.
http://bit.ly/1G8n7LX