Late-night Greensboro house fire kills 66-year-old, kerosene heater found

Firefighters responding about 11:06 p.m. on Saturday found 66-year-old Timothy Hockett inside a residence at 214 West Vandalia Ave., in the 200 block of West Vandalia Avenue. Hockett was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and died the following day. One other occupant escaped the house before firefighters arrived.

Officers with the Greensboro Police Department, crews from the Greensboro Fire Department and Guilford County EMS handled the response. Fire crews reported locating a kerosene heater inside the home, but investigators have not determined whether the heater was involved in igniting the blaze. Officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Weather complicated the response. Dwayne Church of Greensboro Fire said, "While initial crews were able to quickly get to the scene, additional support crews faced significant delays due to the snow." Fire officials have been urging caution as residents rely on supplemental heaters during the cold snap.

Investigators are working to reconcile details from the scene and to finalize a cause. Some accounts identify the roadway as West Vandalia Road; local records list the address as 214 West Vandalia Ave. Fire officials and police are expected to release further information, including any coroner findings and final incident reports, as their inquiries continue.

The presence of a kerosene heater and the timing of the storm underline two persistent risks for Guilford County households this winter: combustible heating devices and delayed mutual-aid response times during severe weather. The Greensboro Fire Department reiterated specific safety guidance for kerosene heaters, advising residents to "keep it three feet away from anything flammable," to "use 1-K kerosene only, never use gasoline, refuel cold and outside and ventilate to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning," and to "keep a window slightly open to help prevent carbon monoxide buildup."

The January 31 fatality at West Vandalia is separate from a Feb. 2 structure fire at an apartment complex on West Friendly Avenue that claimed another life; local firefighters have pointed to both incidents in recent public-safety messaging. For neighbors, first responders and policymakers, the incidents raise questions about public outreach on safe heating practices, the availability of safe emergency-warming centers during storms, and how heavy weather affects dispatch and mutual-aid arrangements.

Officials encourage residents to follow the fire department's safety guidance and to report hazardous conditions to emergency services. The investigation into the West Vandalia fire is ongoing; the community can expect updates from Greensboro Fire, Greensboro Police and Guilford County EMS as authorities confirm cause and provide additional findings.