AUTISTIC ROANE MAN DIES IN FIRE - Wesley Tanner, 50, Didn't Make It Out

(12/18/2010)

"We tried several times to get him out of the house. He evidently was very confused and frightened and he wouldn't come," according to Newton resident Joan Tanner, describing the nightmare of trying to save her autistic brother. Wesley Tanner, 50, died early Friday morning in the Newton, Roane County blaze. WCHS-TV is reporting that Tanner's elderly uncle, Carl Rogers, tried to get him out, but ended up in a Charleston hospital being treated for smoke inhalation and cuts from broken glass. A Newton firefighter that was trying to save the victim received minor burns when the blaze flashed. Fire Chief Sean McCarty of the Newton VFD said, " We made our initial attack into the house and as we did it flashed. That's when the one fireman got minor burns." Authorities said smoke detectors might have provided more warning about the 4 a.m. blaze, saying they had no batteries. Assistant State Fire Marshal Jason Baltic is investigating. The fire also damaged Joan Tanner's adjacent house. The Red Cross is working on helping the dead man's family. Roane County firemen have faced a half-dozen fires during the last 10 days or so, often during very frigid conditions.

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