Man Dies in Manufactured Home Fire

LIBERTY, December 2, 2008 - Tuesday afternoon a well kept double wide manufactured home burned in the 700 block of CR 142 off of FM 563 south of Liberty and claimed the life of one of the residents.

Click HERE for Video Report

The fire was first reported around 3:17 PM and City of Liberty Firefighters were first to arrive on the scene. The Hull Daisetta Volunteer Fire Department responded and provided mutual aid to fight this rapidly burning fire.

The house was heavily involved in flames when firefighters arrived and learned that someone may be inside. While one crew started putting water on the fire another went to the rear of the house, finding the back door open and conducted a search of the blazing structure. They found the victim inside in the living room of the home.

Water to fight this blaze had to be trucked from a fire hydrant inside the City limits of Liberty near the Turkey Creek Church on FM 563 to the scene of the fire approximately six miles south of US 90. Firefighters fought this blaze for about 2-1/2 hours.

Justice of the Peace Bobby Rader conducted an inquest at the scene pronouncing Dwayne Shellhammer age 43 dead at the scene. Judge Rader ordered an autopsy to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death by the Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office in Beaumont.

Sgt. Investigator Kenny Dagle with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department is spearheading the investigation into the cause of this deadly fire.

According to Sgt. Dagle, “The damage is extensive, so it’s going to take some time for a cause determination.” Sgt. Dagle will be working with the Liberty Fire Marshal’s Office during the continuing investigation.

It was an emotional afternoon at the scene of the fire as friends, family members and neighbors arrived on the scene and learned of the victim’s death.

Shellhammer was the husband of Tammy Schellhammer, the animal control officer for the City of Liberty, and a former dispatcher and jailer for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Assistant Chief Hurst at press time the cause of the fire has not yet been determined pending outcome of the investigation.

Give us your Feedback about this story!