Man dies and woman injured in Jackson Village fire
-Herald photo by Jan Extine
An early morning fire at the Jackson Village apartments claimed the life of one man Sunday (Nov. 8).
Forrest Lee Aikens, 76, died at the scene of the fire. According to Sylva Assistant Fire Chief Mike Bryson, two apartments were destroyed in the fire.
The cause is still under investigation, Bryson said.
“We had it under control in about an hour,” he said. “We got the page around 2 a.m.”
Jackson County Fire Marshal Alan Farmer said the fire started in a breezeway connecting apartment buildings.
Farmer confirmed that another person was injured escaping from the fire.
“An elderly lady who lived in the second floor apartments jumped out of her window to get away,” he said. “She suffered a broken ankle and some back injuries because of that. Emergency Management workers took her to Harris Regional Hospital and from there she was transported to Memorial Mission in Asheville.
“None of the injuries are life-threatening,” Farmer said. “In fact the EMS people told me she was a spunky lady.”
Sylva received mutual aid from the Cullowhee Savannah, Balsam and Qualla fire departments.
