JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man died Sunday morning following a house fire in the Moncrief neighborhood, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The fire broke out at a home on the corner of West 26th Street and Spires Avenue around 7:30 a.m., according to Jacksonville Fire Rescue. Firefighters said they managed to extinguish the blaze before discovering the man’s body inside the home.
Video from the scene shows the extensive damage to the home, with windows blown out, the interior gutted, and exterior paint melted by the flames. A faint smell of smoke lingered in the area.
Neighbors expressed sorrow over the loss. One neighbor, Robert Kearney, said he knew the man by the nickname “Frat” and described him as a good person who would help anyone.
“I just came by to visit. On my way to the store to visit someone and I saw the red tape. When I stopped they told me it was a friend of mine who goes by the name ‘New York.’ I know him as ‘Frat.’ What I can say about him was he was a good dude. He would help anybody if he could,” Kearney said.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the fire or the victim to call 904-630-0500.
Detectives with the Homicide Unit, Crime Scene Unit, and the State Fire Marshal were at the scene to conduct an investigation and are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine how to classify the death.
JSO’s full briefing on the incident can be watched below.