A few passing clouds. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

A few passing clouds. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

An elderly man is dead as a result of a fire late Saturday afternoon at a mobile home in the 400 block of Cliff Lane that was accidentally caused by an overloaded electrical outlet, the Rocky Mount Fire Department said in a news release Sunday morning.

Ernest Ricks, 77, lost his life due to being injured during the fire, fire Administrative Capt. Kim Wittig said in an updated news release. The fire occurred in Tanner Road Park, which is a mobile home park in an area between Fountain School and Cool Spring roads.

According to Wittig in the first news release, at about 4:36 p.m. Saturday firefighters were dispatched to the fire scene, they arrived on the scene within seven minutes of having been dispatched and they saw flames and smoke coming from the mobile home.

Additionally, the firefighters saw flames coming through two windows in the middle of the structure, one of which had a window unit air conditioner in place, Wittig said.

There also was a vehicle outside the residence that indicated there could be occupants inside and reports from bystanders confirmed the occupant might possibly still be inside the structure, Wittig said.

After the occupant was found and brought out, Edgecombe County Emergency Medical Services personnel reported that the occupant died as a result of injuries from the fire, Wittig said.

Twenty-seven Rocky Mount firefighters responded to the fire and were able to extinguish the fire within 22 minutes of the first arriving units, Wittig said.

There was 60 percent damage to the mobile home, with smoke and heat damage throughout the remainder of the structure, Wittig said.

The American Red Cross was contacted to offer help to the surviving occupants, Wittig said.

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