By Associated Press - Friday, January 19, 2018

JEFFERSON, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say a fire that claimed the life of an 80-year-old Georgia man was accidental.

The Athens Banner-Herald quotes Office of Insurance and Safety Commissioner Jay Florence as saying Wednesday’s house fire in which Leroy Johnson died was caused by the improper use of smoking materials.

A spokesman for the department said a neighbor reported the fire after 10 a.m. Wednesday. A Jefferson firefighter found Johnson’s body in a bedroom of the home. Fire investigators believe he had been smoking while in bed.



___

Information from: Athens Banner-Herald, http://www.onlineathens.com

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.