Lakewood man killed in July 31 mobile home fire identified by medical examiner
A 52-year-old Lakewood man who died in a residential fire early last week was identified Friday by the Pierce County medical examiner.
Vincent Robinson died on July 31 of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, according to a Pierce County medical examiner news release.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to a mobile home in the 8500 block of 31st Avenue South at 8:57 a.m.
Fire officials previously said that there were two other adults in the home with Robinson who made it out without injuries.
Carol Jones, Robinson’s step-sister, and her nephew Roland Curtis lived in the mobile home with Robinson and his mother Charlotte Jones. Jones and Curtis were able to escape, but lost everything including Jones’ medicine. Robinson’s mother was not in the home during the time of the fire.
Jones told The News Tribune that they tried to get Robinson out but were unable to because the fire was too big.
There were also four cats in the home during the time of the fire. One cat named Tiny was taken to a veterinarian hospital in Tacoma to be treated for burns on its paws and was later moved to a veterinarian clinic to fully heal. Another cat named Baby was killed in the fire. Whereabouts of the other two cats are unknown.
A firefighter sustained minor injuries to one of his hands after entering the home to rescue the cats.
The single-story mobile home was completely uninhabitable after the fire, public information officer Jenny Weekes said.
Jones said that the city of Lakewood is using money from its emergency fund to pay for their stay at a Motel 6 until Aug. 14 and they are also receiving assistance from the city to get a new apartment. They have also received assistance from the Red Cross and have received clothing donations.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This story was originally published August 7, 2023 at 2:34 PM.
