One man is dead following a duplex fire in Neenah late Monday night. He's been identified as 40-year-old Jason Hendricks.
"He was a nice guy so he'll be missed. He's got a lot of friends," said Bill Strullmyer, the maintenance guy for the duplex.
Neenah Menasha Fire and Rescue crews were called out around 9:36 p.m to a duplex fire at 1339 Primrose Lane.
"Were flames coming out of the garage and heavy smoke coming out of the eaves of the house," said Neenah-Menasha assistant fire chief, Vernon Green.
Captain Troy Jahns with Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue shares with NBC26 that when crews arrived they performed a quick attack and rescue mode on both sides of the duplex.
One side had already been cleared before crews arrived.
Fire crews confirm Hendricks died as a result of that fire.
Fire fighters had trouble getting into the building because the front door was dead-bolted, but were able to enter through the garage and back door.
Crews found Hendricks in the living room, unconscious.
"The detectors in the living area may not have sounded as early as you would've liked because the smoke was above it in the attic space," explained assistant chief Green.
That man died at Theda Clark Hospital.
He is believed to be around 40-years-old, was alone at the home when the fire occurred.
Crews were still on the scene early Tuesday morning. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but crews know it started in the garage and believe it's a result of one of three things.
Assistant Chief Green says they found smoking materials in a melted garbage can. They also found rags which looked to be used for cleaning and an outlet filled with electrical extension cords, so investigators are trying to narrow down which of these three things started that blaze.
Green says they hope to conclude their investigation by Wednesday afternoon.
