Man found dead after house fire in Inverness

INVERNESS, Fla. – The Citrus County Fire Department and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a house fire that killed one man Tuesday evening.

Crews responded to the fire at a home on East Live Oak Lane around 6 p.m., the fire department said in a news release. When additional crews arrived, firefighters reported thick smoke and conditions inside the 1,000-square-foot home. Debris blocked pathways, making it difficult to move around the home.

Firefighters initially withdrew from the house because the heat was great and access was restricted due to the ceiling and lack of air supply, the fire department said.

According to fire officials, a campfire was also discovered in a house next to the burning building. That fire was reportedly extinguished before crews continued working on the original fire.

According to the fire department, the fire was under control at 6:15 p.m. During a second search a few minutes later, emergency services discovered the man’s body in an adjoining room.

The emergency services remained on site for several hours before the work was completed at 1:02 a.m. on Wednesday, the fire department said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is currently leading the investigation into the cause of the fire, Citrus County officials said. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office is also reportedly in charge of the investigation.

Rescue workers said they are waiting for family members to identify the man found dead.

For more information from Citrus County Fire Rescue, click here.