Hide Article Text (OCR)
By TOM CONNER Daily News Staff Writer A neighbor of Robert and Jean Garrett, who died Friday after being overcome by smoke in their burning home, tried repeated ly to rescue the couple but was thwarted by the suffocating smoke. ““You wouldn't believe that smoke. I had a and couldn't see a foot in front of me. It was real hot and my eyes were burn ing. I almost passed out after less than 15 seconds in that house,”’ 18-year-old James Dorman said Saturday. Dorman lives next door to 304 Sikes Circle, Fort Walton Beach, where the Garretts and their two sons — Brent, 13, and Todd, 10 - lived. He said he was the first person to reach the house after it caught fire early Friday He said the ‘‘popping and cracking”’ of the fire drew him out of his bedroom shortly before 2 a.m. Flames 6 feet tall were leaping from the garage roof, he said. “I saw Brent and Todd climbing out their bedroom window,’ he said. ‘I went to a neighbor’s house and banged on their door, but they didn’t answer. Then I went back and called the fire department and put my shoes on .I went out and crawled into the boys’ bedroom. I took three steps and couldn’t see a thing. I was about to pass out. It was unbelievable.” Dorman said he climbed out the window, knocked on a neighbor’s door again and ran to the Garretts’ bedroom window in the back of the house. “I couldn’t open the window. I guess I wasn’t thinking, but I should have broken the window then.” Instead, Dorman returned to the front of the house, but couldn't get in. Firefighters and police had not yet arriv ed, he said, so he returned to the bedroom window .I busted it open with my hand and tried to get in, but the smoke caught me in the face and I couldn't breathe,’ he recalled. ‘‘I step ped away and caught my breath and tried again. Firefighters arrived, Dorman said, and one passed Mrs. Garrett through the window to him. Mr. Garrett then was carried from the house. The Garretts died later at a hospital from smoke inhalation. Their sons survived, and fire officials think Mrs. Garrett was respon sible for saving their lives. Mrs. Garrett apparently was awakened by the smoke, roused the children from their sleep and then tried to rescue her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett were found slumped on a bedroom floor, Dorman said he was alone in his home when the fire at the Garretts’ house broke out because his parents were out of town.
Newspaper Details
Fort Walton Beach Playground Daily News
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, US
Sun, Oct 03, 1982
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Melissa C.
USA 20 Jun 2026
Other Publications Near Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Playground Daily News
Fort Walton Beach Playground Sunday News
Fort Walton Beach Playground Daily News
Northwest Florida Daily News Sunday
Northwest Florida Daily News
