Man dies of smoke inhalation during a residential fire

A 27-year-old Fairfield man died of smoke inhalation Sunday evening during a two-alarm fire that trapped him inside a Starling Way residence and displaced three other occupants.

The Solano County Coroner on Monday identified the victim as Isaiah Eaton.

Fairfield Deputy Fire Chief John Sturdee said department firefighters responded to a 6:23 p.m. call of a structure fire in the 2000 block of Starling Way, in the center eastern sector of the city.

While en route, with the smoke visible from virtually every corner of the city, said Sturdee, firefighters were told an adult male was trapped inside the residence.

Arriving firefighters found a “well-involved fire and immediately went into rescue mode,” found the victim but “unfortunately the victim’s injuries were fatal,” according to a department statement issued late Sunday night.

Another adult male, who was not identified, also suffered smoke inhalation and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. Two females not identified also survived but were not injured, noted Sturdee.

The Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary shelter, he added.

The blaze appears to have been “cooking-related” and was the likely cause but remains under investigation, said Sturdee, adding that it caused approximately $275,000 in damage to the structure and a $25,000 loss to contents.

“The home in uninhabitable,” he said. “It sustained major damage from heat and smoke.”

The next-door residence suffered an estimated $20,000 in fire-related damage, said Sturdee.

Five engines, a ladder truck, a battalion chief, two ambulances, and 19 firefighters responded to the fire, he noted, adding that some 1,000 gallons of water were used to suppress the flames. No firefighters were injured.