Tupelo man dies in house fire

Randy Mitchell Staff Writer

Tupelo July 14, 2008 05:59 pm

— Officials are investigating the cause of a late night house fire which killed a Tupelo man Thursday.
Officials believe Timmie Frank Owens, 54, died as a result of the fire, Coal County Sheriff Roy Deck said. Firefighters from Tupelo and Coalgate responded to the fire just after 1 a.m. in the 100 block of Olive Street.
Deck said Timmie Owens’ father, Frank, escaped the blaze by climbing out a window. He was taken by private vehicle to an Ada hospital to be checked for smoke inhalation.
Deck said when firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Although the official cause of the fire is still under investigation officials don’t believe there was any foul play, Deck said.
“The cause of the fire is still undetermined at this time by the State Fire Marshal’s office,” Deck said. “The medical examiner, along with myself and Tupelo Police Chief Steve Jett worked the scene last night. After a tentative investigation, we believe he probably died as a result of the fire.”
Timmie Owens was taken to Brown’s Funeral Home in Coalgate. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Brown’s Funeral Chapel in Coalgate.