UPDATE: Cleveland fire kills elderly man, caused by space heater

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Cleveland Police have released new information about the fatal fire Friday night.

Friday night, around 7 o’clock, a 911 call alerted Cleveland authorities to a house fire on 4th street, where an elderly couple lived.

These two neighbors saved the woman, but the fire trapped and killed James Kline, less than two weeks before his 79th birthday.

Davis: “I knew him so well, you know. He was just kind of one of those old guys you know in the neighborhood growing up. I always said hey to him and he always said hey to me.”

Investigators determined an ill-placed space heater caused the fire. Kline had left it on near the bedroom door, right under some hanging clothes.

Evie West/Cleveland Police PIO: “It was cold that night, so obviously he turned on the heater to stay warm. The problem is when you turn the heater on and you lay down to go to sleep, and you’re not aware of your surroundings, you’re not aware of what’s going on.”

Police think that’s exactly what happened, and Kline wasn’t aware of the fire until it was already out of control.

The Tennessee Valley and North Georgia area have seen several fatal fires already this year. You can take a few simple steps to make sure your house is safe.

West: “If you do turn a heater on, you need to make sure that it’s pulled away from any combustables, anything that could cause it to ignite like clothing, or just anything, trees, couches, furniture.”

Police advise you to keep your heaters in the middle of the room, and don’t leave them unattended.