COPPERAS COVE, Texas — A 61-year-old man is dead after a fire sparked inside his home early Thanksgiving morning, Copperas Cove Fire Chief Gary D. Young wrote in a news release.
Young said the fire department got a call about the man's house, located in the 2100 block of Circle Drive, being on fire around 4:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they saw fire and smoke coming out of the front of the house, as well as its garage. They were also told that the man was still inside of the burning building.
Firefighters searched for the man, but "the home was heavily charged with smoke, which caused a complete loss of visibility," Young said. After a short search, they found him and brought him outside, but he wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse, Young added.
Authorities tried to revive him, but they weren't able to and he died at the home, Young said.
The man, identified as George Freeman, lived in the home with his wife and seven children. They were able to escape safely and are now getting assistance from the American Red Cross.
The fire was put out in 30 minutes.
Young said the fire started in the garage and directly damaged the area, dining room, kitchen and living room. The rest of the home was damaged by smoke.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
