Death and Hearth Fires

[Whitehyena]

So after setting up my cute little camp, got my wall up, and all that good stuff, a new player came over to me, and we were all buddy-buddy, and started helping each other out! Giving each other stuff, and building stuff together, and it was really fun.

He hasn't been on in about a week, and I'm beginning to wonder if he died. He did have a nasty habit of getting to close to things that would attack him.

So, I'm wondering, is there any way to find out if someone you're kinned with died - or if the color of their Hearth Fire would indicate anything.

Currently, the hearth fire is bright blue, as opposed to my online bright green. I know that there is an 'Offline' color, but is there an additional color that would indicate death?

[spawningmink]

his hearth fire will turn into a pile a sticks or an unlit fire is someone dies

[Granger]

One thing that came to my mind, what happens if i break that seemingly normal fire? Light it?
Well this disable the spawn of an inherited character?