Archived as originally published. Information reflects the date of this article.
A man is undergoing treatment for burns he received in a Christmas Eve house fire. It happened at about 8:30 on Highway 96 near Buna. Jasper County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Scotty Duncan said that both the Buna and Evadale Fire Departments responded to the scene, and firefighters suspect the cause was a homemade water heater. A family member later identified the victim as Gary Mathis, and although she didn't know his exact age, she said that he was in his 70's. The family member said that Mr. Mathis has 2nd and 3rd degree burns. He was initially transported by ambulance St Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, and later transferred to the Blocker Burn Unit at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.