A Buffalo man who survived a fatal fire is doing better. William Jackson is now upgraded to serious condition and remains at the Erie County Medical Center. Meanwhile, the family of one of the fire victims speaks to Eyewitness News about their loss.
53-year-old Steven Salley died from smoke inhalation at a fire at 614 East Delavan Avenue this week. The building was a group home for adults with disabilities. Salley's rooomate, 44-year-old Jonah Mitchell, also perished in the fire, which fire officials think was caused by cloth located too close to an electrical heater.
Salley, known as "Stevie," is remembered as the fun-loving easygoing brother in the close-knit Salley family. "He was a great person, a very loving person and he was very intelligent," said Brenda Sanders, the victim's sister.
Sanders just saw Steve three weeks ago at a family dinner. He seemed happy and relaxed then, which is a nice memory for her to now hold onto. "I actually woke up Wednesday morning and was watching the news and I saw the house," said Sanders.
The group home where Steve lived caught on fire early that morning. Fire officials say the smoke detectors in the home were not functioning and both men died from smoke inhalation. "By the time we got to the hospital we learned that he was gone," said Sanders.
But the Salley family wants to focus right now on the great person Steve was, someone who enjoyed life despite struggling with mental illness. "He graduated from Hutch Tech, and he also attended a historically black college, Tuskegee Institute in Alabama," said Sanders.
Steve was an uncle to many nieces and nephews. He spent time volunteering at a senior citizens center and playing basketball. He has five siblings who miss him very much. "I feel at peace with where he is. He's gone home, so to speak," said Larry Salley, the victim's brother.
Jackson, the caretaker of the home, tried to alert Steve and Jonah to the fire and barely made it out alive. Three police officers also tried to rescue people from the burning building.
The Salley family is holding a memorial service for Steve this Friday at St. Luke's A.M.E. Zion Church at 12noon. The church is located at 314 East Ferry in Buffalo.
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