Armstrong said the house fire, at 222 Denton Ave., was reported at about 7:35 p.m. Monday, and when firefighters arrived they found the front portion of the house fully engulfed in flames.
"We had the fire under control in about 20 minutes," Armstrong said, "and then we did salvage and overhaul for about another half hour."
Overhaul, Armstrong said, means the firefighters were looking for hot spots or areas in the house which may have been still smoldering.
There was nothing to salvage, Armstrong said. He estimated the fire, smoke and water damage to the home at about $60,000, and that the house itself may be so damaged it cannot be saved.
Armstrong said he was told by the neighbors that Sawyer may have dropped a lit cigarette in his couch, and tried to put the flames out himself but the fire grew too quickly. The neighbors helped Sawyer escape the fire and waited with him until Pafford Ambulance personnel arrived. Armstrong said Sawyer did not appear burned, but was transferred to a hospital for smoke inhalation and heat-related injuries.
Sallisaw firefighters stayed busy Monday when they were called to a fire at the Sallisaw Landfill, east of the city.
Armstrong said they were called to the landfill at about 7 a.m. Monday, but that "Witnesses said it could possibly have been burning on Sunday."
Firefighters fought the fire at the landfill until about 11:30 a.m. Monday.
"Then the landfill and the street department people took over," Armstrong said, explaining the landfill's heavy equipment and street department's water tank continued to douse the hot spots at the landfill.
"There's no telling what started the landfill fire," Armstrong said.
Fighting a fire at the landfill "is always a safety concern," Armstrong said because it is unknown what combustibles may be burning and what garbage may be walking over.
"We try to stay up wind from the fire at all times," Armstrong said, explaining how firemen avoid inhaling possibly dangerous fumes and smoke. He added they also wear gloves to avoid being cut or jabbed by trash.
