An early morning rural home fire on Herald Blacktop has the claimed the life of a man. Fire officials say it was before 7am when they were dispatched to an area near 625 County Road 1050 East (Herald Blacktop). Witness reports called the fire in and good Samaritans helped the woman escape the flames. Those gentlemen, Jeremy Hoskins and David Gunter, once able to assist getting the wife out of the house bravely attempted to go back in for her husband but were unable. Fire officials confirm for us the gentleman eventually fought his way out, but was overcome and collapsed on the porch. The state fire marshal has been on scene and the investigation into the cause of the blaze continues. Norris City and Carmi fire personnel worked the scene and White County Ambulance also provided aid. We have no current word on the condition of the woman who was rescued from the home. Officials aren’t releasing names at this time. This is the first fatality from a fire in the Norris City Fire District in more than 30 years.
