By Associated Press - Friday, January 22, 2021

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - A second person has died from injuries suffered in a fire in West Warwick earlier this month, police said.

Steven Lima, 54, died Thursday night after being injured in a Jan. 6 fire at a home on the New London Turnpike, The Providence Journal reports.

The fire also killed Lima’s nephew, 41-year-old Jason Mather, who authorities say was unable to escape after helping his uncle get out of the house.

Lima, who used a wheelchair, escaped through a window and crawled to a neighbor’s house after being awakened by his nephew. Mather could have escaped but instead tried to save his uncle, fire officials said.

Firefighters were unable to get Mather out, and two were burned trying to get to him, officials said. Lima was taken to Kent Hospital, where he later died.

The state Fire Marshal determined that the fire was caused by clothes left on a gas-fired heater.

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