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Fatal house fire caused by smoking, investigators say 

Fire investigators say that a 72-year-old man who died last week in his Deep Creek mobile home had accidentally ignited his own clothing while smoking.

Joel Thompson, of Barco Court, went into the bathroom and tried to put out the flames when he suffered a heart attack, said Capt. Steve Johnson, fire spokesman. Thompson was blind, Johnson said.

Neighbors noticed heavy smoke pouring out of the trailer about 2:30 p.m. Thursday and were investigating when Thompson's son and another man pulled up to the scene. The two men tried to rescue Thompson, but the heat from the fire kept them back.

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