Deadly Blanco fire ruled accidental

Round Mountain, TX (KXAN) - A fire in Round Mountain on Sunday was accidental - started by a wood-burning stove, authorities said Thursday.

Wesley Dale Linebarger, 40, died of smoke inhalation after the blaze on near Highway 281 in the small Blanco County town.

Firefighters found his body a few hours after they'd put out the flames, and initially investigated it as a suspicious fire or homicide. Authorities said empty gas cans were found just outside the bedroom window where the remains were found, but investigators have ruled out homicide and arson.

"Probably about midnight, we heard a lot of popping, and we thought maybe it was fireworks," said Lynn Ortiz, a neighbor who lives across the street.

It wasn't. Ortiz's neighbor's house was on fire and burning fast.

Soon, flames engulfed the home on US 281 north.

"We started screaming because the first thing we thought was that the lady was in there because she stays home a lot,' Ortiz added.

"Oh my god, it was really scary," said Jeanette Holt, a next door neighbor.  "Our emotions, we just didn't know whether to scream or cry. "We were trying to tell the state troopers and all of the firemen somebody's got to be in there because she's always in there."

Holt and Ortiz said they were able to locate the lady who owns the home. She was at a friend's house.

In the burned out-home firefighters found the remains of six dogs and Linebarger's body.

Meanwhile, neighbors are left to mourn.

"It's sad for her," Holt said.  "Not having a home, and the dogs that we heard barking every single night."