PANAMA CITY — A fire in a Panama City mobile home park Wednesday night killed a man and a dog, a fire official said.
Four units with the Panama City Fire Department responded to a call at 11:32 p.m. Wednesday at 1320 Buena Vista Blvd. Three people were asleep inside the home when it was reported, but two had escaped the blaze by the time fire crews arrived three or four minutes later, Assistant Fire Chief Byron Bennett said Thursday.
The victim is 39-year-old Sean McDuffie. A small dog also died in the fire, Bennett said.
A Fire Department press release said the fire has been ruled accidental and the cause was unattended food left cooking on a stove. Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office worked with the Fire Department to determine the cause.
The medical examiner has determined the cause of death to be smoke inhalation, the release said.
Panama City Police also are investigating the death and the fire, but foul play is not suspected, said PCPD spokesman Lt. Robert Luther.
Neighbors said another man who escaped the fire returned Thursday to try and salvage some clothes from the home. The man, whom they knew as Chris, was still shaken up, neighbor Ann Hogya said. She and her daughter gave him some clothes.