43 year old Tulsan killed in early morning apartment fire

Tulsa's second fatal fire in two weeks. News on Six reporter Patrina Adger says the most recent fire occurred early Tuesday morning near 71st and Yale. <br><br>The fire started in the living room

Tuesday, March 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa's second fatal fire in two weeks. News on Six reporter Patrina Adger says the most recent fire occurred early Tuesday morning near 71st and Yale.

The fire started in the living room of an apartment in the Eagle Point Apartment complex. A halogen lamp is said to have played a part.

Most of the residents were asleep and didn't hear a thing. But thanks to one man, they're alive. Jesse Robinson, "I didn't call 911, I just went over and started kicking in doors and banging on the back windows." Jesse Robinson's footprints are still on several doors. Some call him a hero. He ran from door-to-door warning residents to get out of their apartments. Kevin Sadler says if it weren't for Robinson, he probably wouldn't be alive. "He is a saint, I owe him my life." Sadler and his girlfriend were sound asleep, until Robinson woke them up by throwing rocks through their window. "I looked downstairs and there was smoke coming up from the stairs and fire coming in the doorway. Then it just kept going up and I see our balcony on fire and I said 'Oh God there goes our apartment.' Luckily it wasn't too bad at all."

Firefighters battled the blaze for an hour and found 43 year old Clark Finley, dead in his bedroom. Investigators say the fire started in Finley's living room. Tulsa Fire Department Captain Hubert Rouse, "He had some Christmas lights that were draped around the apartment draped onto that halogen light and the combustible too close to the element is what ignited the fire."

The fire destroyed 6 units. 16 families have been moved to other units within the complex. Sadler thanked the man who's responsible for saving his life and the lives of so many others. "There would have been a lot more casualties and fatalities."

Damages are said to be around $250,000. The medical examiner is still trying to determine the exact cause of death.