Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Weekend fire claims life of Curley Wolf fan

A familiar sight along the sidelines at Cummins Field will no longer be seen carrying the maroon and white flag after Curley Wolf touchdowns.

Mario Harris, approximately 25-years-old, died in a house fire Saturday, June 5.

According to Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell, Harris was living with his grandmother, Dorothy Harris, on Nevada 41 in the Lackland Springs Community, one of the areas still without power from the storms from June 2. They were apparently using candles and other items to provide light in the house, and, from preliminary investigations, a candle in Mario's room apparently caught something on fire.

His grandmother woke up, smelled smoke and heard popping noises, Otwell said, and attempted to get into his room. She couldn't get through the door and tried another way, but was again turned back by the flames.

Dorothy Harris drove to a neighbors house for help and was eventually able to call 9-1-1 for assistance. However, Otwell said, by the time any fire department and other emergency personnel arrived, the frame structure was "on the ground." The Laneburg and Redland volunteer fire departments, along with the Nevada County Rescue Unit, responded to the call, but were unable to save the house.

Harris' body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsy, though foul play is not suspected, Otwell said.

The fire is being investigated by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office and Arkansas State Police. However, Otwell said, arson is not suspected in the incident.

Harris was an icon at Curley Wolf football games as he carried the large maroon and white flags up and down the sidelines when the Wolves scored a touchdown.