CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- At approximately 12:55 a.m. Saturday the 9-1-1 call center received a call for a house fire in the 700 block of S. 19th Street in Centerville. There was one victim; 46 year-old Mark. A Morelock was found dead inside.
The Centerville Fire Department was on the scene shortly thereafter to find the house in flames.
"We found a house that had heavy fire coming from two sides and through the roof. It was determined that there was an occupant in the house. Crews attempted to make entry. We got it knocked down on the fire and crews made entry. Eventually we were able to located the victim inside the house. Unfortunately the victim was deceased when we found him inside the residence," says Fire Chief Mike Bogle.
Neighbors were startled in the middle of the night by smoke and flames by the sight and smell of the fire.
"I thought it was someone just burning trash. About a half hour later, she (Moore's wife) looked out the window and flames were just gushing out of the roof there," says Larry Moore, a neighbor of Morelock's.
Smoke could still be smelled on Saturday afternoon. Cars drove slowly by and some even stopped.
"He was a really nice guy. He mostly kept to himself," said one driver.
Fire Chief Bogle told KTVO that the fire is still under investigation and the cause is unknown at this time. We will keep you updated as we receive more information.
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