i'm not buying "I just happened to be lighting a fire right then... and I heard him yell, and tried to put it out, and then he died, sadly.
More like "I heard this dude cry for help in the chimney and I was scared and angry so I lit a fire, took a crap from stress, then put it out all quick and called 911.
I bet there is cell phone call of the dude crying for help as the homeowner tossed in wood and fumbled with a lighter for 45 seconds...