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Man killed, woman badly burned in Orlando house fire

Space heater may be to blame, firefighters say

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was killed and a woman was badly burned after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning in Orlando. 

Firefighters were called around 1:30 a.m. to a house at 416 South Parramore Avenue near South Street.

"My fiancé was going to work and he came back into the house and said, 'Baby there's a fire that fire that was on South Parramore is right across the street,'" Marjory Myles said.

Myles lives across the street from where the fire happened.Witnesses on the street alerted firefighters that a person may be trapped inside the home.

Firefighters say they found the victim after kicking in a back door.

"He mentioned that when he opened up the door smoke was so severe he couldn't open the side door," said Johnny Santil. 

He was at the home Tuesday afternoon taking pictures of the home for his friend who was able to escape. 

Officials haven't released the victim's name but his cousin was at the home Tuesday. He said he is a man who will be missed. 

Upon arrival, Orlando firefighters found the home fully engulfed with flames. Two others were in the home at the time, officials said.

Firefighters say a woman suffered severe burns and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center as a trauma alert patient and was also treated for smoke inhalation.

"I don't know anything else about that I just know the people that stayed there are really good people. " Myles added.

Another man inside was able to escape out a window and was not seriously injured, officials said.

Orlando fire investigators have ruled the fire accidental with an undetermined cause.

"Witnesses in the house say that they saw the space heater on fire. So, that's all we can go on is what witnesses inside the house say," said Orlando Assistant Fire Chief Paul Plaugher. 

As the cooler weather continues for Orlando, the fire department wants to remind residents to use heating appliances with caution. That includes space heaters, fireplaces, generators, ovens or any other appliance that produces heat.

[SAFETY TIPS: How to properly use space heater]

Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this developing story. 


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