James Tipton, 61, was identified Monday as the man whose burned body.
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Investigators are still
searching for the cause of the fatal fire on
July 9 that killed a Pinedale man and sent
a woman to the intensive care unit at an
Idaho burn clinic.
James Tipton, 61, was identified Monday
as the man whose burned body was
removed after the late-night fire blazed
through the single-family home at 121
N. Ashley Ave., Pinedale. The cause of
his death was not yet determined either
by press time.
After the fire started and noxious
smoke poured from the house, a neighbor
heard Tricia Gregory Gunderson, 57,
screaming to someone to get out. He said
he could not see anyone inside the house,
which was blazing, and moved her away
from the house.
The neighbor called 911 at 10:50 p.m.
Sublette County Unified Fire, Wyoming
Highway Patrol and Sublette County
deputies responded within four to five
minutes, the neighbor said. SCUF arrived
with 32 firefighters and 10 firefighting
apparatus and contained the blaze but
could not enter the home immediately
due to the flames and heavy smoke.
Sublette EMS treated Gunderson initially
and transported her to the Pinedale Medical
Clinic. She was picked up by an air ambulance
helicopter and taken to Eastern Idaho Regional
Medical Center’s burn clinic intensive
care unit to be treated for acute smoke inhalation
and burns. This past week, Gunderson
was moved into a regular ward at EIRMC in
fair condition.
Patricia Knudsen, of Rock Springs, owns
the property, according to county land records.
The American Red Cross of Wyoming announced
it is assisting with lodging and other
immediate and longer-term needs.
Dave Harley of the Wyoming State Fire
Marshal’s Office is assisting Sublette County
investigators in determining the cause and origin
of this fatal fire. Regarding the origin and
cause of the Ashley Avenue house fire, Harley
said county investigators are completing interviews,
including with Gunderson, for a report
that will help him reach a conclusion.
Harley is also investigating the July 11
blaze that destroyed the landmark lodge at
White Pine Ski Resort, 12 miles up Skyline
Road from Pinedale. He was meeting an insurance
agent there Thursday to examine the
devastated building.