If the idiot was already dehydrated and passed out from sleep deprivation or shock from any injuries he may have sustained, then it's altogether possible that the homeowner wouldn't have known he was there. If the homeowner walked away for a moment after first lighting the fire (make a head call, put up groceries, pour some scotch), then he may not have heard when the screaming first started, assuming he started screaming as soon as the first tendrils of smoke tickled his whiskers. If it took him a minute or two to come to, damage was already done and it may have been too late by the time he started with the yowling. However, these are all what-if's that aren't going to be answered until the autopsy is complete and all the statements have been given to investigators.
As far as I'm concerned, he was a goddamned idiot that managed to get himself killed. Nobody held him at gunpoint and forced him down that chimney, just like there wasn't a pack of hot dogs waiting at the bottom so he could feed his starving children. No pity from me.
