Story/Photos by DANNY FUREIGH

A two alarm structure fire claimed the life of a northwest Florida man on Wednesday August 21st in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The elderly man whose escape was hindered by an amputated leg and immense amount of furnishings, debris, papers etc succombed to the fire that had been burning unreported for an extended period of time.

Interior crews were forced out by severe smoke and fire conditions and were experiencing flashover conditions on their retreat.

The residence was a large structure with several hips on the roofs, making and exterior knockdown extremely difficult.