Man dies in downtown Corbin house fire Friday night

A local man died in a house fire in downtown Corbin Friday night, and authorities and neighbors think he may have had underlying medical conditions that contributed to his death.

Fire fighters and EMS officials worked frantically to save Carl Hammons after he was pulled from the back bedroom of the blazing home at 314 Fourth Street. Ultimately, the efforts were futile.

Corbin Fire Chief Barry McDonald said Hammons more than likely died of smoke inhalation, but also speculates he had other medical conditions that could also have been contributing factors.

"I know our guys had just been there Tuesday on a medical call at that same residence," McDonald said. "He may have had something else going on. I’m not a doctor, so it’s hard to know for sure."

Neighbors said ambulances had been at the residence numerous times in the past couple of weeks.

The blaze started a little after 9:00 p.m. Witnesses say there were visible flames inside the home before firefighters arrived.

McDonald said officials believe the fire started in the area of a stove in the home. The fact that Hammons was found in a back bedroom indicates he may have been asleep when the blaze happened, McDonald said, explaining why he was unable to escape.

Firefighters performed chest compressions on Hammons and used an AED device several times to no avail. He was taken by Whitley EMS to Baptist Health Corbin where he was pronounced dead.

McDonald said Hammons was home alone when the fire broke out.

Fire officials stayed on scene for awhile afterward ensuring the blaze was completely extinguished.