An 85-year-old Sevier County man died early Saturday when a fire extinguisher his wife used to try to quell a blaze in his bedroom failed.
About 4 a.m., Owen Kay Reynolds of Richfield woke up his wife, 61-year-old Linda Reynolds, as he yelled for the fire extinguisher. She grabbed it from the kitchen and ran to his bedroom, where she found a fire, according to a news release from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.
When she pulled the pin and squeezed the lever, nothing happened, the release said. Linda Reynolds then tried to go into the bedroom to save him, but it was too hot and smoky, so she called Richfield City Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived at the home, near 2330 East and 1700 North, just after 4 a.m..
Crews battled flames to get into Reynolds’ bedroom and bring him outside. He was taken to Sevier Valley Hospital, where he died. Linda Reynolds was also taken to the hospital, but is OK, according to the release.
Investigators haven’t determined the cause of the fire but don’t suspect foul play.
The blaze damaged the entire home, and crews called the Red Cross to help Linda Reynolds with housing, the release said.
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