Published: 1/18/2022

CITY FIRE CHIEF DON COLLINS PROVIDED INFORMATION ON AN OVERNIGHT FIRE IN AN APARTMENT LOCATED AT 945 CLEVELAND STREET IN PULASKI. A NEIGHBOR CALLED 911 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:50 PM TO REPORT FLAMES IN A SECOND STORY APARTMENT. PULASKI FIRE AND PSO’S RESPONDED, ALONG WITH THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND PULASKI ELECTRIC SYSTEM. CREWS REMAINED ON SCENE UNTIL AFTER 11:00 PM.

THE OCCUPANT’S CAR WAS PRESENT ON THE PROPERTY BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, SO CREWS HAD DO A FORCIBLE ENTRY. CREWS WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DID A SEARCH OF THE APARTMENT AND FOUND AN ELDERLY OCCUPANT DECEASED INSIDE. THE OCCUPENT WAS IDENTIFIED AS 71 YEAR OLD ROBERT NEWTON. FIRE CHIEF COLLINS CALLED IN THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE AND TURNED THE SCENE OVER TO THEM. THEIR INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL.

THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT $50,000 BUT WAS CONTAINED TO ONE APARTMENT, AS THE SHEETROCK CONSTRUCTION LIKELY KEPT THE FIRE FROM SPREADING TO THE REST OF THE BUILDING.