A house fire that killed a man in southern Athens-Clarke County Tuesday morning was determined to be an accidental kitchen fire, according to Assistant Chief Mark Melvin on the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services Department.
The sole occupant of the house on Duncan Springs Road was 58-year-old resident Dan Schab, who firefighters removed from the burning structure while unconscious. He was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center where he later died.
Fire Chief Jeff Scarbrough used the fatal incident to issue a safety reminder.
"Cooking is a leading cause of home fires and sadly enough this type of fire is preventable," Scarbrough said. "Please pay close attention when cooking and stay near the stove with a large lid” to suffocate flames with.
Schab was owner of Schab Violins, a business he opened on Prince Avenue in 2010. He most recently ran the business from his home, located off South Lumpkin Street near the Middle Oconee River.
The fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. by a witness who called 911 after receiving no response when banging on the door, according to a police report.
When police arrived they saw flames coming from the roof line and in the area of a car port, according to the report.
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