62-year-old dies in house fire that engulfed MS Coast home, fire chief says

A man died early Tuesday when a fire roared through a brick home in Gulfport.

The flames erupted around 4:10 a.m. and had engulfed the home on North Carolina Avenue by the time the first truck arrived four minutes later, Fire Chief Billy Kelley said.

“Everything is burned and gone,” Kelley said Tuesday morning.

Firefighters racing to control the flames found a 62-year-old man dead inside the single-story home, according to the fire department. Fire officials believe he was the only person living there. Kelley said they also rescued two dogs.

The fire’s cause was undetermined, and investigators were digging through what remained Tuesday morning for clues. But Kelley said nothing about its origin appeared suspicious.

Firefighters suppressed the flames in 30 minutes but kept putting out hot spots without disturbing the room where the man was found, Kelley said.

Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer did not immediately return a message.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 9:19 AM.