Man Severely Burned In Friday's DeLand-Area House Fire Dies

Date Added: December 23, 2017 7:38 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

MAN SEVERELY BURNED IN FRIDAY'S DELAND-AREA HOUSE FIRE DIES

A DeLand man who was badly burned Friday in a house fire near DeLand died today with family present.

Willie T. Jones, 54, was inside the residence at 638 W. Ida Ave., when it started burning just before noon Friday. He was pulled to safety by witnesses, but suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns to about 70 percent of his body. He was transported by Air One to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where he died this afternoon.

The Sheriff's Office and state Fire Marshal's Office are conducting a joint investigation, which at this time points to accidental death or suicide. On Thursday, Jones had received a 24-hour eviction notice, and his motion to stay the writ of possession was denied Friday, shortly before he returned to the house. The investigation suggests Jones purposely set himself and the residence on fire.