Retired Florida Firefighter Dies in House Fire

A house fire in Lake County, Fla., that neighbors originally ignored thinking it was a Thanksgiving weekend cookout killed a wheelchair-bound retired Florida firefighter, according to a Local 6 News report. Fire officials said the blaze ignited at a home located at 611 First Ave., in Lady Lake Sunday after the wife of a wheelchair-bound former firefighter from Miami-Dade left for church. Neighbors said they did not call immediately call 911 about the flames because they thought it was a barbecue. "We thought the neighbors were grilling because I saw the reflection and I thought it was a reflection of the people across the street but it was really flames inside the house," neighbor Sarah Bramblett said. "Precious minutes ticked by as the house burned and the wheelchair-bound man inside tried to drag himself to the door," Local 6's Erik von Ancken said. A neighbor tried to break a window and rescue the man but was unsuccessful. "We tried to get inside there but there was just complete black smoke," a neighbor said. The name of the victim was not identified by officials. The state fire marshal is investigating the blaze. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.