An Owensboro man found inside an active structure fire at West First and Plum Streets on Dec. 14 has died of fire-related injuries. Tony Conder, 52, was removed from life-support Wednesday in Louisville.
According to City Commissioner Larry Conder and cousin of the victim, Owensboro Fire Department removed Tony from the structure fire and AMR Ambulance began taking over treatment as they rushed the victim to the hospital. Tony was unconscious after the fire rescue, Conder said.
Tony was taken to the University of Louisville for further examination and was declared brain dead due to smoke inhalation and other injuries sustained during the structure fire. Conder said Tony’s mother made the difficult decision to take her son off life-support after being kept alive for two weeks.
According to Conder, Tony was a veteran who, during his military career, was deployed overseas in Desert Storm.
Conder also described his cousin as a kind, caring man who went out of his way to help others in his community.
“Tony was a man who helped those in his neighborhood with mechanical issues — he was very mechanically-sound,” Conder said. “He did that so people in that area wouldn’t have to pay more than they could afford to fix their vehicles.”
Conder said Tony lived only four houses down from his mother and spent much of his time caring for her as well.
The investigation regarding this structure fire is still ongoing, according to OFD Battalion Chief Steve Leonard.
“We haven’t talked to all of the witnesses in that area yet,” Leonard said. “It appeared that the fire started in the rear area of the structure. We know the area, but we don’t know the ammunition source as of yet.”
