WOODVILLE — A housefire last week proved fatal at a Woodville home.
According to reports, a fire was reported on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 22, at a house within the 400 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Woodville Fire Department responded to the fire with two engines and 14 firefighters.
A man who lived in the house, alone, died in the fire, and according to Woodville Fire Chief Alan Gartner, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine what the cause of the fire was. The name of the deceased was not available at this time.
The home was a complete loss and was the second weather-related fire within the city limits, in the space of a week.
Gartner said everyone needs to be careful when using a heater inside to stay warm, or when building a fire. Also, he urged everyone to make sure their smoke detectors are working properly.
According to information from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments, nationwide, respond to more than 44,200 home heating-related fires each year, which result in hundreds of deaths and more than 1,300 injuries.
Space heaters, according to data from the NFPA, are most often responsible for these fires. In chilly weather, it’s common to utilize heating equipment inside. The American Red Cross, in a news release, states that it is critical to maintain at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and to never leave it unattended.