Two Die in Fillmore’s 2nd Fatal Fire in 20 Years

Two men were killed early Sunday when a fire tore through a triplex.

It was only the second fatal fire in Fillmore in at least 20 years, said Fire Chief Pat Askren.

Marvin Mitchell, 67, who resided at the triplex, and Keith Brockus, 32, a homeless Fillmore man who was visiting him, were unable to escape the fire and died of severe burns, officials said.

Two other residents escaped unharmed.

The fire, in the 600 block of Central Avenue just north of downtown, broke out about 3 a.m., fire officials said.

“It was very intense,” Askren said. “We could see smoke 100 feet in the air from across town.”

By the time firefighters arrived, the middle apartment--where Mitchell resided--was engulfed in 20-foot flames, Askren said.

Sixteen firefighters with three fire engines extinguished the blaze within 20 minutes, Askren said.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation, but officials suspected that it started when a cigarette ignited a couch.

Gray Palmer, 42, who resided in the rear unit, awoke when he heard loud noises from the fire, Askren said. He was unable to rescue Mitchell and Brockus, but alerted Dorothy Barker, 65, the resident of the front unit.

“I woke up and all I heard was, ‘Fire, fire, fire,’ ” Barker said. “It was terrifying.” She had lived in the triplex 12 years.

Mitchell, a retired carpet layer, had lost part of a leg in the 1960s and walked with an artificial limb, said his nephew, Steve Mitchell. Originally from Arkansas, Mitchell had been a Fillmore resident since the 1940s.

“He [Mitchell] was a good friend,” Barker said. “He was a good neighbor, and I am going to miss him very much.”

Brockus was a homeless man whose parents live in Utah.

At midday Sunday, concerned neighbors gathered in front of the burned-out residence to discuss ways to pool their efforts to help the survivors.

“She [Barker] is going to be OK, but she will need a lot of help,” said Verneddral Lovelady. “She lost everything she had, and she is on limited income.”

By afternoon, Barker had found a room in a senior citizens home. She and other neighbors were looking for a home for Palmer.