Fire claims West Pettus residence

The Demopolis Fire and Rescue Department responded to a house fire at 605 West Pettus Street at approximately 8 a.m. Monday morning. As of 10 a.m., DFRD staff and Demopolis Police Department officials were still on the scene as firefighters continued to search through the rubble for the body of a victim they believe to have been in the home at the time of the blaze.

One individual managed to escape the predominantly wooden structure unharmed. The identity of the victim will not be released until authorities locate and identify the body and then inform the next of kin.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The county coroner and state fire marshal’s office will be called to the scene.