Man Killed In Fire Identified

By Bay City News Service

A man who was killed in a house fire in unincorporated Martinez
on Tuesday morning has been identified as 64-year-old Thomas Pattillo, a Contra Costa County coroner's sergeant said Thursday.          

A neighbor reported a fire at a house on Martha Drive about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Lewis Broschard said.

When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were coming from the front windows of the home, Broschard said.

Neighbors told firefighters that Pattillo was inside, but by the time firefighters found him he was dead.

The coroner's office found that he died from smoke inhalation and burns.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to control the blaze, which caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, Broschard said.

The house was being renovated in preparation for sale, according to Broschard, and there were no smoke detectors inside.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office investigated the fire along with fire investigators.

Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said Thursday that investigators didn't find anything suspicious and the fire appeared to be accidental.