March 26, 2007 05:04 pm
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A brush fire that got out of hand claimed the life of an elderly Cumberland County man Sunday afternoon, according to the fire department and sheriff's department.
The 83-year-old Sunset Rd. resident died at the scene after his clothes caught on fire while he was burning a brush pile Sunday around 3:45 p.m. His wife discovered the scene and called emergency crews. She was unable to reach her husband to assist him.
It was unknown if the victim was first overcome by smoke before his clothing caught on fire.
The remote setting is in southwest Cumberland County off Milo Webb Rd. which runs off Brewer Rd.
Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services, the sheriff's department and firefighters from the Community Complex and Lake Tansi stations responded to the fire but were unable to help the victim.
Neighbors and friends rushed to the scene to comfort the victim's wife as sheriff's investigators filled out reports on the incident. No one else was injured.
It was one of several woods and brush fires that the county fire department responded to over the weekend as sunny skies and warm temperatures caused residents to start spring cleanup of their property early this year.
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