FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KFSM) -- A man was killed in a house fire at the 500 block of South Happy Hollow Road late Saturday (July 14), according to Fayetteville police.
The man was identified as 69-year-old Billy Jones.
Fayetteville Fire Department Captain Randall Coker said they have responded to the house a few times over the last six months, but never for a fire.
"He was an older gentleman and had failing health," said Coker regarding the occupant.
When they arrived fire was coming out of the front door and window of the living room along with dark smoke. "The heat from the fire busted out the windows which allowed air in and that fed the fire," said Coker.
Don Thompson lives next door and he watched as the fire tore through his neighbor's home -- his neighbor of 30 years.
"We were preparing to go to bed and heard all of the sirens, so we went outside, and was surprised to see they [firefighters] were right in our front yard," said Thompson.
The official cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fayetteville Fire Department.