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Gene Nelson
SYLVA RENA – An 81-year old man was killed in a house fire Sunday afternoon on County Road 280. Yalobusha County Coroner Ronnie Stark reported Marvin Eugene “Gene” Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene from smoke inhalation.
EMA Director Dalton Coleman reported fire fighters were toned out to the fire around 5:30 p.m. Sunday after one of the residents who lived at the house returned from town after picking up groceries and noticed smoke.
“She called 911 and made it inside the house but could not get him out,” Coleman told the Herald. Sylva Rena firefighter Frank Hyde was first on the scene, followed shortly by fire fighters Brandon Crocker and Kyle Spence, who suited up and entered the house and found the victim in the floor.
“When they got him out, the fire was right behind them. It was really getting hot,” Coleman continued.
Deputy Aquarius Phillips and EMA Deputy Director Jarred Logan immediately started CPR but were unable to resuscitate him.
“It was a great effort, the firefighters did everything they could to get him out of the house as fast as possible. As soon as they got him out, Jarred and Aquarius worked hard, but they could not revive him,” Coleman said.
Coleman said that the fire appeared to start in the vicinity of a heater in the rear of the home. Two pets inside the home were also killed in the fire.
Seven Oaks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Nelson.
