Details Released About Fatal Fire's Cause

Fire investigators with the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office have determined that the operation of a propane-fired stove contributed to a two-alarm North Hampton camping trailer fire that claimed the life of an elderly man this week.

State Fire Investigator William Clark stated in a release Wednesday that the cause of Monday's fire is officially ruled as undetermined. He said, though, that the cause is "related" to a propane stove in the kitchen of the trailer, which the victim — Robert Sylvain, 79, of Marathon, Fla. — was operating at the time.

Reports came in shortly after 9 a.m. Monday about the fire at Shel-Al Campground, located at 115 Lafayette Road. According to emergency radio communications, Sylvain suffered burns on 29 percent of his body, and subsequent reports stated that a woman pulled Sylvain from the fire.

Sylvain later passed away Tuesday at a Boston hospital as a result of his injuries.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Clark at (603) 223-4289.