A Lancaster County man died in a house fire that his girlfriend managed to escape Sunday night.
Investigators with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office said Ronnie Starnes, 48, was pronounced dead at his home on Beacon Road around 10:45 p.m. Authorities believe he died as a result of the fire, but his body was taken to Piedmont Medical Center for an examination to determine the exact cause of death.
"Our investigators found nothing suspicious in regard to his death," said Chief Deputy Barry Faile of the sheriff's office.
Authorities said witnesses, including Starnes' girlfriend who was asleep when the fire started around 9 p.m., said the man was cooking when the blaze began. He alerted his girlfriend and got her out of the home southeast of Lancaster.
Starnes then went back into the kitchen to try to put out the flames. Deputies said his girlfriend saw his body lying on the kitchen floor moments later and was able to pull him outside. A neighbor helped her pull his body into the backyard and also called 911.
Paramedics arrived within minutes and attempted to revive Starnes, but they were unable to save him, deputies said. The Antioch Volunteer Fire Department also responded and put out the flames.
"It's a very unfortunate death and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Faile said.
The house, valued at $150,000, was entirely destroyed.
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