The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fatal house fire that claimed the life of an elderly man on the evening of January 23, 2025.
At approximately 8:45 p.m., Smith County fire crews responded to reports of a blaze at a home in the 4100 block of Farm-to-Market Road 2908, located just off Old Kilgore Highway, east of Tyler. Neighbors alerted authorities after noticing flames coming through the roof of the residence.
An 87-year-old man, who lived alone, was rescued from the burning structure by bystanders before emergency responders arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Smith County Justice of the Peace Curtis Wolfe, who ordered an autopsy. The victim’s name has not been released pending the autopsy.
Fire crews from Smith County successfully extinguished the flames, but the home was declared a total loss. The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue.