Fatal house fire appears to have been ignited by heater

At 4:55 this morning, the Woodville Volunteer Fire Department was called out to MLK Drive in Woodville.

WVFD Chief, Alan Gartner said that the department arrived with 1 engine, 1 tanker and 17 fire fighters to battle the blaze. Sadly one person believed to be in his 60's was killed in the blaze. Gartner added that the fire appears to have been accidental and began from a heating source. It is unknown whether or not there were smoke detectors inside the home.

Images courtesy of Woodville VFD Chief Alan Gartner

The victims name is not being released yet pending family notification.

The State Fire Marshal and Woodville PD are investigating the fire as well as the death.

Woodville Police Chief Michael McCulley has released the following statement;

At approximately 4:45 a.m. this morning, the Woodville Fire Department responded to a reported house fire located in the 400 block of M. L.K. Dr. in the City of Woodville. A 911 caller reported that a residence on M.L.K. Dr. was on fire and fully engulfed. The Fire Department responded and found the residence fully engulfed. The Woodville Fire Department, Chief Alan Gartner later advised that about 30 minutes into fighting the fire, a deceased person was observed inside the residence. After distinguishing the fire, Chief Gartner requested the Woodville Police Department contact the State Fire Marshall Office for assistance. ( It is normal protocol to contact the State Fire Marshall in cases of any fatality in this type of residential fire).

The initial investigation suggests that the deceased was the home owner, who lived alone. His identity has not been released pending positive Identification. The deceased was transferred to the Jefferson County Morgue after an autopsy was ordered by Justice of the Peace, Precinct#1, Tina Self. The preliminary investigation suggests that the fire (may have) started from a space heater that was recovered close to the deceased. The temperature at the time of the fire was reported to be approximately 15 degrees. The residence did not appear to have any smoke detectors. The State Fire Marshall Office is leading the investigation.