Update: Elderly Man Dies Bastrop House Fire
By: Staff
Updated: December 12, 2012
Full Story:
BASTROP -- A house fire claims the life of an elderly man in Bastrop.
The call came out just after 8 a.m. Wednesday morning of a three bedroom house engulfed in flames on the 700 block of Randal Street, just off Highway 165.
Shortly after the fire broke out, dozens of people gathered outside the home of the victim, 85-year old John Pugh Anderson, who lived alone.
"I'm just sad it had to happen this way," said his granddaughter, Deshonda Rice.
His family says he leaves behind 24 children, and even more grandchildren -- many of them stood outside his home for hours, comforting each other.
"My granddad was a cookie monster," Rice said. "He liked anything and everything that was sweet."
His family says the retired mechanic and farmer spent much of his life in Morehouse Parish, teaching his children and grandchildren the ways of the farm.
"He would make me come to the farm and we'd play with the pigs, play with the horses," grandson Gerald Dean Givens.
Anderson's family says he only lived in the home since 2009, because his previous home burned down at his farm in Beakman.
Fire investigators in Bastrop tell us the home did not have electricity, but Anderson was using a generator propped in a window for power and heat.
Investigators said Anderson's body was found in one of the bedrooms. His body has been sent to little rock for an autopsy.
No other injuries were reported. The State Fire Marshal is still investigating how this fire sparked.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for Anderson are pending.
"It was devastating," said granddaughter Bareasia Lewis. "I was scared and when I got up here, it was too late. And he's gonna be missed. I already miss him,"
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Update:
Investigators in Bastrop tell us the home where the fatal fire happened did not have electricity. The victim, John Pugh Anderson, was using a generator for power.
His body has been sent to Little Rock for an autopsy.
We're also told Mr. Anderson lived in the home since 2009, because his other home burned down at his farm in Beakman.
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10:30 a.m.:
Investigators are on the scene of a fatal house fire in Bastrop. The home is located on Randal Street, south of U.S. 165.
The victim is identified as 85-year-old John Anderson.
Fire crews tell us they received the fire call around 8:30 a.m. this morning.
No other injuries were reported in the fire.
The State Fire Marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire.
BASTROP -- A house fire claims the life of an elderly man in Bastrop.
The call came out just after 8 a.m. Wednesday morning of a three bedroom house engulfed in flames on the 700 block of Randal Street, just off Highway 165.
Shortly after the fire broke out, dozens of people gathered outside the home of the victim, 85-year old John Pugh Anderson, who lived alone.
"I'm just sad it had to happen this way," said his granddaughter, Deshonda Rice.
His family says he leaves behind 24 children, and even more grandchildren -- many of them stood outside his home for hours, comforting each other.
"My granddad was a cookie monster," Rice said. "He liked anything and everything that was sweet."
His family says the retired mechanic and farmer spent much of his life in Morehouse Parish, teaching his children and grandchildren the ways of the farm.
"He would make me come to the farm and we'd play with the pigs, play with the horses," grandson Gerald Dean Givens.
Anderson's family says he only lived in the home since 2009, because his previous home burned down at his farm in Beakman.
Fire investigators in Bastrop tell us the home did not have electricity, but Anderson was using a generator propped in a window for power and heat.
Investigators said Anderson's body was found in one of the bedrooms. His body has been sent to little rock for an autopsy.
No other injuries were reported. The State Fire Marshal is still investigating how this fire sparked.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for Anderson are pending.
"It was devastating," said granddaughter Bareasia Lewis. "I was scared and when I got up here, it was too late. And he's gonna be missed. I already miss him,"
----------------------------------------------------
Update:
Investigators in Bastrop tell us the home where the fatal fire happened did not have electricity. The victim, John Pugh Anderson, was using a generator for power.
His body has been sent to Little Rock for an autopsy.
We're also told Mr. Anderson lived in the home since 2009, because his other home burned down at his farm in Beakman.
------------------------------------------------
10:30 a.m.:
Investigators are on the scene of a fatal house fire in Bastrop. The home is located on Randal Street, south of U.S. 165.
The victim is identified as 85-year-old John Anderson.
Fire crews tell us they received the fire call around 8:30 a.m. this morning.
No other injuries were reported in the fire.
The State Fire Marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire.
