FIRE CLAIMS LIFE OF SCOTT CITY MAN

SCOTT CITY -- A fire at a Scott City mobile home Thursday claimed the life of a 31-year-old Scott City man.

The fire started at approximately 12:12 p.m. at 910 E. Maple, trailer 8.

Tony Beckett, 31, died at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, where he was taken by North Scott County ambulance. Investigators said Beckett apparently died of smoke inhalation.

James "Butch" Amann, fire investigator for the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, said the fire has been ruled accidental and was probably caused by an electrical problem.

Amann said the fire started in the living room. Beckett was discovered at the other end of the mobile home in his bedroom. Amann said the fire did not spread very far but generated a lot of smoke.

"He had standard furnishings in his home, a lot of plastics," Amann said. "You're going to get a good volume of smoke. It was a smoldering and a smoky fire."

Amann said no further investigation will be conducted.