Fire Officials Investigating Early Morning High Ridge-Area House Fire

Fire officials are investigating the cause of an early morning house fire that killed a young man inside the home. 

Firefighters got the call around 4 a.m., said Asst. Chief John Lakin, of the High Ridge Fire Protection District. When they arrived, flames were through the roof at the single-family home at 14 Ridge Road near High Ridge.

Our partners at Fox 2 were on scene early this morning while firefighters were battling the blaze.

"Neighbors told us that the home was in foreclosure, and that they thought that one of the family's kids was living there off and on," Lakin told Patch. "They said the gas had been turned off and the young man may have been using a kerosene heater to try and stay warm."

Firefighters did a primary search of the home when they first arrived, but the structure was already 50- to 60-percent involved, Lakin said.

"Once we had the fire under control, we did another search and found a man in his early to mid 20s," Lakin said. 

Authories are trying to confirm the identity of the man.

Patch will provide updates to this story as they become available. See previous article:

• Man Found Dead in Burning High Ridge Home