Blind Man Dies After Oven Fire in South Carolina Home
A 73-year-old blind man, Jerry Martin Ellis, died from smoke inhalation and thermal burns in Anderson County, South Carolina, after his oven was accidentally turned on and ignited his jacket.
Portland, OR, July 20, 2026 —
ANDERSON COUNTY, SC – A tragic incident in Anderson County has resulted in the death of a 73-year-old blind man, Jerry Martin Ellis. The Anderson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Ellis died from smoke inhalation and thermal burns sustained in a house fire.
The fire reportedly began when the man’s oven was accidentally turned on. According to officials, the heat from the oven ignited the jacket Mr. Ellis was wearing. The exact circumstances leading to the oven being turned on were not immediately specified.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene. However, due to the nature of his injuries, which included smoke inhalation and thermal burns, Mr. Ellis was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Anderson County Fire Department are investigating the incident to determine the precise sequence of events.
Jerry Martin Ellis was a resident of Anderson County. Further details regarding the timeline of the event and the initial discovery of the fire have not yet been released by authorities.
Story summarized from the original created by Lorenza Medley on www.kptv.com, see more information here.
