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| Calvin Bringman, 80, was identified in the early morning fire Sunday at his home at 74 Tower Hill Road. Source// Campbell County PVA website. |
The victim of the fatal Fort Thomas fire this morning has been identified. Calvin Bringman, 80, was the only person in the house, according to fire officials.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined and according to fire officials is unlikely to be determined due to the high majority of the house being in total ruins.
One of Bringman’s neighbors, Lisa Hathorn witnessed the early stages of the fire this morning.
“My neighbors, Bruce Lowe and his son, Zach live on the other side of the house that burned. Their dogs, like mine, were barking and extremely agitated, (which woke) up Zach. As soon as he opened his eyes, he said he saw the glow of the fire. He woke his dad and told him to call 911 for help,” she said. “Zach came to my house, where my dog was going nuts and as soon as I opened the door for Zach, it was obvious the fire was raging. The flames were as high as the tree tops, smoke was billowing out, there was a lot of popping and cracking noises, and the heat was intense.”
Hathorn recalled some memories of her Bringman.
“Calvin lived in that house when we moved here in 1981. He was very quiet, almost a recluse really. He might nod if he saw you, but rarely spoke. He did have a destination on Sundays, be it church, the Waffle house, or just to get out, I have no idea. But, he did seem to go out almost every Sunday morning, and I presumed it might be church,” she said. “He was sometimes visited years ago by a woman close to his age, and sometimes by a man, possibly his nephew, with whom he would leave, I think to go fishing. It’s been so long since we saw this younger man, I can’t be sure. Calvin always kept his lawn trimmed, used an electric mower, and it was he who planted the pine tree in the front yard.  He tinkered with things, household repairs and small motors, years ago. He fed the birds and had numerous bird feeders in his back yard. All in all, he seemed a very private man, very quiet.”
