911 call leads to body with ‘severe burns’ in backyard, NC sheriff says

A man was found fatally burned near his rural North Carolina home, and investigators suspect the injuries occurred when he fell into a fire.

The body was discovered around 12:10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, at a home on Brushy Mountain Road in the Stoneville area, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

“It was learned that 47-year-old Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Dean Dalton had passed away in his backyard and had sustained severe burns about his body,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Dalton had obtained his injuries after falling into an active fire pit. The Rockingham County Medical examiner responded to the scene, and at this time it is believed there was no foul play involved. However, due to the nature of this death ... and pending autopsy results, this incident is still under investigation.”

Investigators did not offer details on when the accident occurred or a possible cause for Dalton’s fall into the fire.

Outdoor fire pits can range from a simple hole in the ground to man-made containers of brick or metal.

“The risk of tripping and falling into the fire pit is sadly supported by real-world experience and data,” the National Fire Protection Association reports.

“The ease of creating a fire, and its small size, may lead people to think that there are fewer safety risks around a fire pit than a campfire. These tips can help people enjoy the ambience of a fire pit while keeping everyone safe.”

Stoneville is about a 120-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.