JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Friends have identified the man killed in a fire on New Year’s morning in Jacksonville Beach as a longtime local and music lover.
Because the family has asked for privacy, News4JAX has removed his name from the story.
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Friends said the man was a beloved member of the community who enjoyed concerts, travel and his family.
A friend of decades tearfully described him as having long hair, a beard and a heart of gold.
Records show the man owned the building with his wife.
The fire happened early Sunday at a three-story mixed-use building, where the man and his wife lived. It’s directly across the street from Jacksonville Beach City Hall and adjacent to Latham Plaza. Dozens of Jacksonville firefighters put out the flames.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman was at the scene early Sunday morning showing support for the man’s family and first responders.
“I know the family, and it is just a very sad loss for us in Jacksonville Beach,” she said. “They are a longtime beaches family — a staple in our community.”
The state fire marshal is leading the investigation, which is standard whenever there’s a death involved in a fire. A spokesperson for the office didn’t immediately respond to News4JAX on Monday.
The city fire marshal said, however, the cause was still under investigation.
Jacksonville Beach’s fire marshal, Capt. Steve Sciotto, said the man was found on the third floor of the building in a small elevator. Sciotto said the man’s wife woke up on the second floor to the sound of water and the glow of flames.
News4JAX was told that the man went to the top floor, where there is an outdoor terrace, to investigate, and he didn’t make it out of the fire. His wife escaped without serious injury.
Sciotto said the fire could have been caused by several things, which could include a fire pit, appliances on the terrace or the possibility of someone’s fireworks. State detectives will make a determination.
Sciotto told News4JAX that the building had been inspected several times and was up to code without any major violations or issues.
The space on the first floor is an office for a local marketing company, Ashby Social.
The owners told News4JAX that they have water and smoke damage and they had just finished renovations within the past few weeks. Their main priority, however, was comforting those dealing with loss, saying the man was not only their landlord, he was a friend.
“It’s just a really hard way to start the year,” Hoffman added. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and everyone who is involved.”
On Monday afternoon, loved ones stopped by the home to remove any of the couple’s belongings, loading them into a moving truck. They chose not to comment on the tragedy.
There was a painting of the man in the window looking out over the second-floor balcony.