Man Dies In Highview House Fire

WLKY.com

A house fire Sunday afternoon claimed the life of a Louisville man.

The Highview fire chief said the fatal fire is still under investigation, but they know the point of origin was in the kitchen.

Family members of the victim said the flames not only took a brother and father, it also took a cornerstone in the neighborhood.

"He'd call me every day. He called me today, twice, and he asked me, ‘Whatcha doing?’ ‘Oh nothing, I'm just reading my book and listening to my music and sitting on my back porch,’" Samuel Jackson said Sunday after the fire.

Jackson said his younger brother, William, always stuck close to his family and neighbors.

An hour after William Jackson’s final call, Samuel Jackson got another call, saying William's home on Overton Road in Highview was on fire and no one could find him.

"If the cars are home, William’s home. If the garage doors are open, William's home,” Samuel said.

Not only is William Jackson’s family hit hard by this tragedy, but also his neighborhood is shaken.

"Everybody knew him. Everybody knew Jackson," said neighbor Bruce Coatley. "Everybody seen him coming and going. He's a real nice guy. You know, watch out for everybody.”

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"He would sit out in his garage and barbeque and play his music or whatever. And any time my kids were out, he'd drive by and wave,” said neighbor Isaac Conn.

Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked the fire. Neighbors and family feared it may have been one of his grills and his love of was barbequing. Investigators said the fire started in the kitchen.

"I can still hear him telling me he'd be over to my house later on this evening,” recalled Samuel Jackson.

Fire investigators said they found the William Jackson in the kitchen, where the fire began and flames caused the roof to collapse.

Samuel Jackson said William worked for Ford for 36 years before he retired in Aug. 2006.

The coroner said 57-year-old Jackson died from smoke inhalation. The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

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