Weston Fire Claims Life Of Elderly Wheelchair Bound Man
WESTON (CBS4) -- Broward authorities are investigating the cause of a Weston house fire that claimed the life of an elderly man confined to a wheelchair.
Neighbors of Jerome and Mattie Taylor called 911 after they heard an alarm ringing at the home, located in the 17-hundred block of Lakeshore Circle. A neighbor managed to rescue Mattie Taylor but her 81-year wheelchair bound husband was still inside.
"He was an old man, debilitated considerably and I knew he would need help getting out," said neighbor Ron Gemme. "I would say it was severe. It moved rapidly through the house. When we got in there, we got a flash over the top of us and then the back of the house blew out."
The first firefighters on the scene attempted to enter the burning two-story home to search for Jerome Taylor but were driven back by intense flames, according to Mike Jachles of the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Department. Taylor died on the scene.
Mrs. Taylor told Broward Sheriff's Office homicide detectives that she heard her husband yelling "fire" and telling her to get water. By the time Mrs. Taylor reached the first-floor room, the door was too hot to enter. That's when a neighbor pulled her from the smoke-filled house and called 911.
Firefighter battled the blaze for 25 minutes before it was finally out. Mattie Taylor was transported to Cleveland Clinic Hospital for smoke inhalation.
Inspectors from the Broward Sheriff Fire Marshal's Bureau and the State Fire Marshal's Office will investigate the cause of the fire on Wednesday.
