Eli Hilderbrand likely succumbed to smoke inhalation after trying to extinguish a fire that started in an area of an apartment house where friends frequently gathered to smoke and discard cigarettes, Arkansas City fire officials said Thursday.
The Cowley College student died early Tuesday morning at a home at 109 N. Fourth Street that had been converted into apartments near campus. A confirmation of his identity was withheld pending completion of an autopsy Wednesday. Hilderbrand was an 18-year-old freshman from Oklahoma.
Investigators believe the fire started in the north portion of the front porch area near a couch and trash can, Chief Randy Leach, of the Ark City Fire Department, said. The home, which had been divided into four-living areas, had a screened porch.
Witnesses told fire officials the front porch was a common location for occupants and friends to socialize and smoke cigarettes. It was common for butts to be discarded in the trashcan and surrounding area.
Improperly discarded cigarette smoking materials started the fire, according to a written statement from Leach. It has been determined that Hilderbrand tried to extinguish the fire and had time to wake his brother, Ty Hilderbrand, who also lived at the apartment. It appears Eli Hilderbrand may have been attempting to warn others occupants of the fire but was quickly overcome by toxic smoke, Leach said.
Two firefighters immediately found Hilderbrand near the entryway to the apartment house when they entered to fight the blaze.
Flames had already breached the front windows and progressed to the interior of the apartments when emergency crews arrived. Firefighters made a quick attack on the fire to slow its spread to other parts of the structure and to protect surrounding homes.
An investigation into the origin and cause of the fire was conducted by David Higday of the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office, assisted by investigators from the Ark City fire-EMS Department, Ark City police department and Capt. Brad Crisp of the Wichita fire department.
