Janis Gammill Obituary, Death Cause – Two individuals who perished in a fire at a residence in Central East Austin early Monday morning have been identified. As reported by the Austin Fire Department (AFD), emergency crews arrived at approximately 1:30 a.m. at a house located on the 3000 block of Pecan Springs Road, close to East 51st Street and Springdale Road.
Upon arrival, responders indicated that three individuals were present inside the residence, with around 75% of the structure engulfed in flames. AFD reported that one person managed to escape the house independently, while crews entered the building and retrieved one of the victims. CPR was performed on the woman, identified as 78-year-old Janis Gammill, who was extracted from the residence, but she succumbed shortly thereafter. A man, 78-year-old Patrick Gammill, was also rescued from the home around 2:15 a.m., but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A representative from AFD informed KVUE that the individual who successfully escaped the burning house declined medical assistance and transport to a hospital.
Jim Olinger, a neighbor, stated that he was awakened by police knocking on his door at 1:45 a.m. and was instructed to evacuate.
Although his own home was unharmed, Olinger reported seeing flames and smoking debris emanating from his neighbor’s house.
He mentioned that he had interacted with his neighbors a few times over the years, expressing that the entire incident is tragic.
“I did worry about how they were doing,” Olinger remarked. “I feel bad whenever anybody dies, especially in such a manner.”
The fire was extinguished just before 2 a.m., but the cause remains undetermined as the investigation is ongoing.