Space heater sparks house fire that kills 1

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) -

One man is dead after a fire was started at his home by a space heater and a blanket. The fire broke out at the house in the 200 block of Vernelle Avenue on Wednesday night.

It took 13 minutes for firefighters to get the blaze under control. They believe George Murphy III was trying to get out through a door in the back of the house when he died.

George's mother, Susie, got the frantic call from her neighbor while she was at choir practice.

"He was hollering, 'Come on home, Ms. Murphy. Come on,' and I said, 'What you want?' He said, 'Your house is on fire,'" she recalled.

Her son was home alone. Susie says the left side of his body was paralyzed as the result of a stroke he had in 2010.

"He couldn't get out and the patio door was locked," she said.

Despite neighbors best efforts, they could not get him out.

"We tried our best just to bust the windows and help him, but the fire was so big, it was just too late," said a neighbor.

In addition to losing her son just one week before Christmas, Susie is left without a home or place to stay.

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Space heater sparks house fire that kills 1