A Rockdale man remained in critical condition at a Dallas hospital at presstime Tuesday after a late night fire last Wednesday.
Lt. Stephen Goodrich said police are not yet releasing the name of the victim, who was initially treated at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple, then transfered to Parkland’s burn center.
“We are in contact with the family and have not yet been given the go-ahead to release the name,” Goodrich said.
Police, the Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department and AMR ambulance personnel responded at 11:22 p.m. March 6 to Hunter’s Chase Apartments, 1501 East Belton.
Goodrich said the complex’s alarm system indicated sprinklers had activated in Room 307. Also, a remote medical call request was received.
Investigators determined the sprinkler system had extinguished a fire on a mattress where the male victim had been sleeping. “The apartment was full of smoke and the occupants were removed,” Goodrich said.
He said the man’s wife had been sleeping in a different room.
The male victim was flown to Scott & White by medical helicopter, while the female was transported by ground ambulance.
Goodrich said the male had sustained burn injuries and both were suffering from smoke inhalation.
The complex was evacuated, as a precaution, but all residents returned to their rooms except for the occupants of Room 307, police said.
Firefighters said the sprinkler system did its job and extinguished the blaze on the bed.
Some smoke and water damage was report but at daybreak there were no visible outside signs of the fire at the large senior apartment complex.
Cause of the fire remain under investigation. Goodrich said smoking could be a factor.
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