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Staunton fatal fire caused by smoking materials; no working alarm in home

Crystal Graham
gray avenue staunton fire
Image courtesy Staunton Fire & Rescue Facebook page

The investigation into the fatal fire on Gray Avenue in Staunton on July 10 found the cause was improperly discarded smoking materials.

There were no working smoke alarms in the home.

Bruce W. Shott, 62, died in emergency surgery from injuries sustained in the fire.

The determination from the Fire Marshal was released today.

Staunton Fire & Rescue as well as Augusta County Fire-Rescue offers free smoke alarms to residents. Contact your local fire department for more information.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.