Man, Dog Killed in Mobile Home Fire

A heated stove left unattended and no smoke detectors -- two mistakes that New Caney firefighters say cost a Montgomery County man and his dog their lives.

Firefighters arrived at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and found Bill Hallmark, 44, and one of his dogs dead inside a burning mobile home at the 20600 block of North Navasota Drive.

Fire investigators say that Hallmark had left the stove on after cooking which ignited materials inside the home.

Had Hallmark installed smoke detectors in his home, they could have saved his life said Assistant Montgomery County Fire Marshal Scott Burlin.

Firefighters found Hallmark unconscious at the far end of his mobile home, according to a statement from the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office. When they were able to pull him out of the burning home, firefighters performed CPR, but were unable to revive him.

Hallmark's death marks the fourth fire fatality this year in Montgomery County. In 2008, Montgomery County had a total of five deaths related to fires.

Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams says that it is important to install smoke detectors in preparation for the upcoming winter season when people tend to depend on heaters to keep their homes warm.