‘Careless smoking’ caused deadly fire, official says

A fire that killed a 53-year-old Barrow County man early Tuesday was the result of the victim’s “careless use of smoking material,” according to the state fire marshal’s office.

A garbage man was working his route around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday when he saw smoke coming from a home in the 100 block of Ashwood Way and called 911, office spokesman Glen Allen told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Crews found Richard Holst in the living room of the Winder home, which is where the blaze started.

The fire has been ruled accidental, Allen said.

So far in 2018, 43 Georgians have died in fires, according to the fire marshal’s office.