Posted on 08/25/2002 5:31:16 PM PDT by COB1
About three months ago, under the advice of the Texas Attorney General's office, I wrote a registered letter to Joyce M. Carter of the Medical Examiner's Office of Harris County in Houston, Texas, requesting the coroner's report on Herbert Paul Meadows, known to us as CHIEF Negotiator, who died in a fire at his house on October 4, 2001.
That report along with the Houston Fire Department's report on the investigation of that fire has finally arrived.
Without going into the technical aspects of the autopsy report, CHIEF Negotiator's death was ruled as accidental due to smoke inhalation.
NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY:
From the Arson Bureau's report:
"The fire originated at floor level approximately 4 feet west of the east wall adjacent to the south wall in the formal dining area. At this point the sheetrock on the south wall shows calcination along the south wall approximately 6 feet in length in the area below the southeast window. This suggests an area of intense burning and high heat.
The wood wall base trim at the area of origin was deeply charred by the fire. A wooden dining set of 4 wooden chairs and a wooden table were almost completely consumed by the fire. Small charred pieces of the table and chairs were all that remained.
The fire was very intense in the dining room area and spread to the adjacent rooms to the east, west and north. These rooms sustained high heat and fire damage from the fire spread. The fire consumed wooden doors separating the dining room from the kitchen and family room. Burn patterns were consistent with a fire moving from the dining room area into the adjacent rooms."
These next pics I took through the window shown by the arrow:
Continuing with the Arson Bureau's report:
"Investigators observed that the north side garage entry door was kicked open and that a partial shoe print was found on the door. This investigator was unable to determine if the door was forced by firefighters or was forced prior to the fire."[italics and bold mine]
------------------------- From the Arson Bureau's report:
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"Captain ------ of L-36 told Investigator ------ that he found the deceased Herbert Paul Meadows lying in a fetal position, with his head against the west wall in the bathroom near the den. Firefighters dragged the victim to the driveway where he was pronounced dead by paramedics of Squad 40."
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"Engineer ------- of L-36 reported that he observed two tripped electrical breakers when he shut off the electrical power."
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Investigator ------- went to St. Lukes Emergency Room to interview --------(Mrs.) Meadows who is the wife of the deceased. --------(Mrs.) Meadows was transported by H.F.D. ambulance after the fire. -------(Mrs.) Meadows was treated for smoke inhalation and had been medicated by the hospital but she was able to relate details of the fire.
(Mrs.) Meadows told investigators that she and her husband Herbert watched a late night T.V. show and then she had went to bed while her husband Herbert had went into the den to work on the computer.
Mrs. Meadows stated that she was in bed about 10 minutes as was not asleep when she heard a 'noise or crash'. Mrs. Meadows said the sound 'was like something going through a window'. These sounds came from the other side of the house where her husband was working. This sound was followed by loud screams. (sic)'Was like something going through a window!' She described the sounds made by her husband as 'like I never heard him scream in my life!'
-----(Mrs.) Meadows reported she ran down the hall toward the dining area and was stopped by the thick black smoke in the kitchen area. ----- (Mrs. Meadows) yelled at her husband and asked him if (sic) see needed to call '911'! (Mrs. Meadows) stated that she heard a 'muffled' 'yes!' and then lost contact with Herbert Meadows. (Mrs. Meadows) told investigator that she smelled a 'bar-b-que' type odor like 'when you light a fire with charcoal lighter fluid'. (Mrs. Meadows) attempted to call for help on a phone in the house but she reported the phone was dead. (sic) Meadows went outside in the front yard and yelled for help.
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From notes of the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office:
"Arson inv. reveals no..(crossed out).. flammable fluids"
"The investigators.. (crossed out).. smelled gas at scene"
"Not sure if they are ruling arson or not"
If he were in another room with the door closed when it started, then it could have reached flashover point in a few minutes. Then the window breaks out and feeds it plenty of air, he goes running to the room, opens the door and begins to try to put it out and gets his hands burned, then is overcome by smoke. Just one scenario, who knows.
If the investigator used a sniffer in the rooom where the fire originated he would know what and how much accelerant was used if any.
Were the phone wires cut? Why was the phone dead, unless the computer was on the only line.
Was there window glass on the inside of the burned room? A burning room would blow the glass out, not in.
Something smells rotten. Gone for only ten minutes, the wife returns to a room filled with fire, a husband beyond help.
Perhaps all this is explainable. Sure raises questions in my mind.
If Herb thought that he could fight the fire by getting to a water source (the bathroom) he misjudged the seriousness of the situation and was quickly overcome by the smoke and fumes. That's not entirely surprising. His instinct would have been to defend his property from the flames, I think. I would guess that most of those burns on his body came after he was unconcious.
I think of the Chief often, he was a man worth admiring and there are far too few of those in this world. May God rest his soul and bring peace to his family and friends.
It could be that it was opened during overhaul too, which is after the fire is extinguished.
From looking at the floor plan, I would guess the house had been remodeled. The "den" shares a wall with the garage. Possibly the existing garage was turned into the den and a new garage was added.
COB1, thanks for the update. I, too, think often of Chief and pray for his family.
Of course!...............BUT:
This investigator was unable to determine if the door was forced by firefighters or was forced prior to the fire."[italics and bold mine]
Don't you think a simple question like, "Hey, guys, did you kick the door open", would have been a natural part of the investigation??!
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