Fire that killed football coach ruled accidental

The death of De’van Bogard, the 27-year-old man who died in an early morning apartment fire in Elyria on Oct. 12, serves as a tragic reminder to renters and homeowners to make sure smoke detectors are in working order.

Bogard, who played football at Ohio State and was an assistant coach on the Elyria High School football team, was discovered by Elyria firefighters near the front door of his third-floor apartment after they responded to a call for a fire at the location.

Elyria fire Chief Joe Pronesti said Bogard likely was overcome by the smoke and flames as he tried to make his way out of the apartment.

“With profound sadness, we are attempting to process the tremendous loss of a very beloved football coach, De’van Bogard. We can’t say enough how loved, admired and respected he was by the Elyria Schools community and most especially by the athletes, coaches, and families involved in Elyria Pioneer football.”

— Elyria City Schools post on Facebook.com

He probably was escaping from his bedroom at 2:20 a.m., at 238 Washington Ave., Building E, Pronesti said.

Investigators have ruled the cause of the fire as accidental.

It started in a couch in the living room, but they aren’t sure what caused the couch to ignite.

“It could have been smoking, maybe a candle,” Pronesti said.

Firefighters were called for a report of a fire in a third-floor apartment.

“When we arrived, we had a well-involved fire in a single apartment,” Pronesti said. “When they opened up the door from the apartment hallway, the victim was right there near the doorway.”

Investigators believe Bogard was in bed, maybe heard smoke detectors sounding in the hallway, and then tried to get out.

“He basically woke up, tried to get out and there was just too much heat and smoke for him,” Pronesti said.

The fire was contained to the single apartment.

Pronesti called Bogard’s death a tragedy.

He said it serves as a reminder to renters and homeowners to make sure smoke detectors are in working order and have fresh batteries.

He also used the fire to warn folks to always sleep with their bedroom door closed.

“People don’t think about doing that,” Pronesti said. “But if a fire starts in your residence and it’s not in your bedroom, that closed door buys you a lot of time that will allow us to get there and rescue you.”

Pronesti said he does not believe there was a smoke detector in Bogard’s apartment, but smoke detectors in the third-floor hallway were working and activated when crews arrived.

Elyria City Schools expressed condolences to Bogard’s family and friends in a posting on its Facebook page.

“With profound sadness, we are attempting to process the tremendous loss of a very beloved football coach, De’van Bogard,” the post said. “We can’t say enough how loved, admired and respected he was by the Elyria Schools community and most especially by the athletes, coaches, and families involved in Elyria Pioneer football.

“The team is grieving his tragic death. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. We are deeply grateful for the impact he’s had on the football program and its many athletes and students.”