MAN KILLED IN BLAZE NEAR PATTON

PATTON -- A man was killed Tuesday night when a fire broke out in a private residential care facility for the mentally handicapped.

Seventeen other residents were evacuated from the facility, which is located about three miles west of the Highway 72-51 intersection, near Patton in Bollinger County.

The deceased, whose name wasn't disclosed, was identified as a white male, about age 54. According to Dan Mesey, Bollinger County sheriff, the man appears to have died from smoke inhalation.

Fire departments from three counties responded to the blaze, which started a little after 9 p.m. and gutted the facility, called Mary's Ranch. Fire departments from Patton, Scopus, Cherokee Pass and Millersville, along with Bollinger County Civil Defense, responded.

It took about an hour to bring the fire under control.

The fire appeared to have started in the residential section of the home, said Mesey. It was discovered by a resident, who alerted staff members. The staff evacuated the residents to a nearby home.

A fire marshal was on the scene and investigation into the cause of the blaze was continuing late Tuesday night.