ByCindy Pitts, Staff Writer

Falling asleep while cooking led to a Whitmire man's death this week.

Charles A. Rice, 40, of 922 Central Ave., is believed to have started cooking on Sunday night, then fallen asleep on his sofa. As the forgotten stove started burning, Rice did not wake, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Tommy Hedgepath.

Hedgepath says Rice did not have any smoke detectors in his home.

The fire started a few minutes before 9 p.m. on Sunday.

The Whitmire and Consolidated fire departments and Whitmire Rescue Squad responded to the fire and found Rice in the house.

Rice was transported to Newberry County Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to Hedgepath.

Firefighter Michael Thomas said the fire mostly damaged the kitchen area of the house, but the remainder of the home suffered smoke and water damage. Thomas estimates there was $25,000 in damage done to the home.

S.C. Law Enforcement Division and Sheriff's Office fire investigators are still investigating the deadly blaze.

Rice died due to smoke inhalation, according to Hedgepath.