Man Dies Following House Fire In Clearwater

CLEARWATER, FL — A man has died following a house fire Monday morning in Clearwater.

Clearwater Fire and Rescue crews were called to 1200 Claire Drive at 7:58 a.m. for a fire at a single-family home.

Fire crews found 91-year-old Thomas Banes inside and provided medical treatment at the scene before taking him to the hospital, where he died.

It took crews about 15 minutes to put out the fire.

Investigators determined that the fire started in a back bedroom and was caused by a lit cigarette in a garbage can.