GERMANTON
A Forsyth County man who was burned on over 95 percent of his body in a house fire Friday died early yesterday, authorities said.
Rickey Lee Banner, 54, of 2520 N.C. 65 was at home Friday when the fire was reported shortly after 9 p.m.
When firefighters arrived, they found a fire burning in the front part of the house, said M.W. Whicker, the lead fire investigator for Forsyth County.
Whicker said that Banner was on fire and lying face-down in the doorway of the house when firefighters arrived.
Firefighters and emergency medical technicians administered first aid and CPR on Banner, who was taken by ambulance to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
He died yesterday about 1:30 a.m., said Chief Eddie Horn of the Rural Hall Fire Department.
Whicker said that the fire was an accident and appears to be related to smoking.
Banner was in the front part of the house when the fire began, Whicker said.
"It appears he tried to make his way out of the house before he was overcome," he said.
Whicker said that an autopsy will be performed, but added that the death is not suspicious.
Banner liked motorcycles, trail bikes and hunting, said his brother, Ronald P. Banner.
Ricky Banner was retired on disability from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. He never married, and he had lived in the house with his parents.
His father died in 1989, and his mother died in 2003, and Banner kept living at the home alone, his brother said.
Horn said that damage to the house was extensive.
Departments assisting Rural Hall included the Mineral Springs, King, Old Richmond, Forsyth County and South Stokes fire departments.
■ Wesley Young can be reached at 727-7369 or at wyoung@wsjournal.com.
■ Journal reporter Jason Tyson contributed to this story.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement