1/8/20

A 53-year-old man in a wheelchair was found dead inside a Columbia home late Tuesday.

Columbia Fire and Rescue said a neighbor of the man who lived on Second Avenue near Stewart Street went to check on the man at about 6 p.m. Tuesday and discovered there had been a fire in the home. Firefighters said the man was found unresponsive on the ground of the home.

It appears a recliner in the home had caught fire at some point since the last time anyone spoke to the man at approximately 8 p.m. Monday.

The flames didn’t spread and Columbia Fire and Rescue said the home was sealed off from neighbors and they did not notice the inside of the house was smoldering. The man was unable to leave the house and died of suspected smoke inhalation.

It is not yet known how the recliner caught fire.