Man, 69, dies after Macon house fire

A 69-year-old double amputee died Saturday afternoon after he was pulled from a Macon house fire, authorities said.

The victim, identified as Douglas Combes, was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:30 p.m., said Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones. Combes, was confined to a wheelchair to get around, Jones said.

Arriving firefighters to the 12:23 p.m. call of a house fire were greeted by “a lot of smoke and a lot of fire coming from the home,” said Macon-Bibb Fire Chief Marvin Riggins.

“There were neighbors who were telling the crews upon arrival that there’s a good chance that somebody’s in the house,” Riggins said. “The crews made rescue efforts.”

Firefighting crews immediately went inside and found Combes, the fire chief said.

“He was unfortunately confined to a wheelchair,” Riggins said. “They evacuated him from the home and they started resuscitation measures on him.”

Arriving emergency medical workers also tried to save him, Riggins said.

“He succumbed to the heat and smoke from that fire,” Riggins said.

The fire, which is under investigation, may have started inside a trash can in the kitchen of Combes’ home, Riggins said.

The fire appears to be accidental, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

This story was originally published July 25, 2020 at 3:03 PM.