Johnson County Man Dies in Mobile Home Fire; State Marshal determined no foul play

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

State Fire Marshal’s Office determined no foul play when the body of a Johnson County man was found after firefighters extinguished the fire at a mobile home in Stambaugh on Wednesday, April 8.

W.R. Castle and Rescue was dispatched to the home fire on Route 1559 around 8 a.m. After they were able to put out the fire, they found the body of the home’s occupant, 77-year-old Clarence VanHoose, in his bedroom. The fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire likely started due to improperly discarded smoking materials. There were no smoke alarms in the home.

One firefighter was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. W.R. Castle was assisted at the scene by Rockhouse Fire and Rescue, Oil Springs Fire and Rescue, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Paintsville EMS and the State Fire Marshal’s Office