Man pulls neighbor from deadly house fire

1 dies in fire officials consider suspicious; rescued man remains critical

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A neighbor who pulled a man from a deadly house fire Thursday night said Friday that he wishes he could have done more.

One man was killed in that fire, which firefighters consider suspicious, at 841 Oakley Street on Jacksonville's Eastside.

Richard Pierce said he dragged another man from the front porch of the burning home. That man was flown to UF Health Gainesville's burn unit with second- and third-degree burns to more than half his body. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, that man is still alive. 

Pierce said he and other neighbors who ran to help attempted to go back for the other man inside the home. 

"I came around. They had the gate wires, (and) I smashed it open, because he was about on that end of the property," Pierce said. "But the fire was so intense. I just couldn't get to him in time."

Neighbors said the two men, whose names have not been released by police, were roommates and were heard arguing before the fire. Investigators believe one of the men intentionally set fire to the house (pictured).

Pierce, who has had four back surgeries, said he realizes now just how risky it would have been if he'd gone back into the burning home.

"My wife said, 'I'm glad you didn't go back up in there. You could have fallen and hit your head. You could have gotten knocked out,'" Pierce said.

The second man was eventually brought out of the home with severe burns but lived only a short while, according to firefighters.

"He said, 'I'm sorry I did it. I'm sorry, I'm sorry,'" said Dr. Wanda Brown, who lives next door.

She said she was also there with the first victim, after Pierce pulled him to safety.

"He was talking to me. He said, 'I'm hurting. I'm burning.' He said, 'I can't move my hands.' Soaking wet, he may be 110 or 111 pounds -- maybe 120," Brown said.

Despite their shock and sadness, neighbors said they're thankful no other homes caught fire.

A Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the fire, which appeared to have included an accelerant, was contained to the porch and the front rooms of the house and was under control within 15-20 minutes.

The burned home is now a smoking ruin and has been condemned by the city. A contractor on site Friday said he expects the home to be torn down next week.

According to property records, the home is owned by UJV Properties LLC in Ohio.


About the Author:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.