A man has been killed in a fire in Butler County this morning and investigators tells Local 12 that careless smoking may be to blame.
Flames broke out at a house in the 500 block of
Rockford Drive in Hamilton around 6:30 this morning. 32 year old Jake Fields was found in the back bedroom of the home and taken to Fort Hamilton Hospital where he died.
An official cause for the fire has not been made but investigators tell Local 12 they have evidence to believe that careless smoking is to blame. The fire started in a couch.
Fields worked for Rumpke and usually reported to work at 4 a.m. Investigators are trying to determine if Fields called in sick to work today. They believe Fields was awake and was trying to get out of the house when he was overcome by smoke.
Field's dog, a boxer, also died in the fire.
