"We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this young man who had his entire life ahead of him," said a fire official
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NEED TO KNOW
- The Harrisonburg (Virginia) Fire Department announced that a 28-year-old man died on Feb. 27 in an accidental fire as a result of cooking in an apartment
- James Madison University identified the victim as student Lorenzo Gibbs
- “Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with Lorenzo’s family, friends and all who knew him,” the school said in a statement
A 28-year-old student at Virginia’s James Madison University died in an apartment fire, officials said.
The incident happened on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the 1400 block of Devon Lane, according to a statement from the Harrisonburg Fire Department.
The department said a caller told 911 dispatchers that he believed there was a fire in the apartment below his and that smoke was coming through the floor vents.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters saw smoke coming from a ground-level apartment on the back of the building — and firefighters encountered smoke and fire in the kitchen area after breaking into the apartment.
“During the process of extinguishment, crews searched for and located an adult male unconscious inside the residence and immediately removed him,” the department said. “He was found to be in cardiac arrest with no pulse and was not breathing. HFD paramedics, working with the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, attempted life saving measures.”
The victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead at about 1 a.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 27.
James Madison University later identified the victim as Lorenzo Gibbs, a senior who majored in integrated science & technology, according to Rocktown Now, JMU student-run newspaper The Breeze and ABC affiliate WHSV.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with Lorenzo’s family, friends and all who knew him," Tim Miller, the school’s vice president for student affairs, said in a statement shared with WHSV. "University leadership is committed to supporting our community during this difficult time, and resources remain available for students, faculty and staff who may need assistance.”
The fire department said that authorities deemed the blaze as being accidental, “with the origin and cause the result of cooking, which is the leading cause of all residential fires in the United States.”
They added that it took 10 minutes for firefighters to put out the blaze and damages from the incident were estimated to be at about $25,000.
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“Our department is heartbroken," Harrisonburg Fire Chief Matthew Tobia said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this young man who had his entire life ahead of him. I am grateful to everyone who did all they could to try to save his life, and my heart goes out to all in our community who are suffering from this loss.”
The fire department noted that Gibbs’ apartment had a working smoke alarm at the time.
PEOPLE contacted James Madison University on Friday, Feb. 27, but did not receive an immediate comment.
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