09-25-2013 Update on Kemp Drive House Fire

Lt. Henry McElvain with the Fire Investigation Division identified the victim as Andrew Broomfield. He is 86, and this morning was listed in critical condition at the burn center, with 2nd and 3rd degree burns to approximately 70% of his body.

Mr. Broomfield's wife, Arma, told fire investigators that she left home to go to her church and on the way home, stopped to buy some food. When she returned home and drove her car into the driveway, she saw smoke and flames shooting out the den window. She said she ran into the house and saw her husband in the living room chair. His clothes were on fire. Ms. Broomfield said she tried to pat the fire out with her hands, and them in the process. When that didn't work, she helped him up, walked him out of the house, and sat him down on a porch chair. Ms. Broomfield said that's when neighbors arrived, picked him up in the chair, and carried him away from the house.

After being transported to Erlanger Medical Center by Hamilton County EMS yesterday afternoon, Mr. Broomfield was flown by Life Force Air Medical to the burn center in Augusta. Ms. Broomfield was treated at Erlanger for burns to her hands and released.

Lt. McElvain said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The dollar loss to the house was estimated at $40,000.