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Death at fire scene deemed suicide

Authorities say a woman took her life after setting her mobile home on fire. A controversy followed.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published September 13, 2005

HIGH POINT - The woman whose body was found in a mobile home fire Sept. 4 died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday.

Detectives determined that Marie Janet James, 54, set the fire in her Fairway Avenue home before committing suicide, sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Donna Black said.

The predawn blaze over the Labor Day weekend prompted a debate last week over the effectiveness of the High Point Volunteer Fire Department.

Hernando County Fire Rescue Lt. Robert Rae criticized the time it took for the volunteer fire engine to arrive and the six minutes his agency's engine was forced to wait outside the community's gate for permission to enter. He also contended the volunteers "have no clue" how to fight fires.

Last week, the High Point homeowners association board transferred authority at fire scenes to Hernando County Fire Rescue. County firefighters now also may respond directly to fires in the 1,600-home retirement community without waiting for permission from the volunteers.

Several county officials and community members have acknowledged to the Times that they have been aware of the circumstances surrounding the death since shortly after the fire. However, authorities would not confirm those details earlier because relatives proved hard to find.

Sheriff's detectives recently were able to contact James' sisters in California and Illinois, Black said.

High Point fire Chief Will Grenier and assistant Chief Jim Pilipchuk could not be reached for comment Monday evening.

Hernando County Commissioner Diane Rowden, a leading proponent of allowing professional county firefighters more control in High Point, said the circumstances of James' death do not affect the key issue.

"I've been aware of the circumstances for a while," she said. "The whole point is, it could have been the other way around in this situation because of the response time. We all know how short of a period it takes for a mobile home to burn, and it's imperative that you have highly trained (responders).

"We were very fortunate the other night; the weather was on our side. Had it been a very windy night, or had it not rained a few nights before, the fire could have gone to the next home and the next and the next."

--Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 352 754-6117.

[Last modified September 13, 2005, 01:45:22]