Early morning residential fire in southeast Port St. Lucie leaves one dead

PORT ST. LUCIE — One person was discovered dead after an early Tuesday morning house fire, but police reported finding nothing suspicious, a police spokesperson said.

About 4:25 a.m. Tuesday, Port St. Lucie police and St. Lucie County Fire District officials went to an address in the 2300 block of Southeast Beechwood Terrace for a residential fire, said Sgt. John Dellacroce, police spokesperson.

The address is in southeastern Port St. Lucie, between U.S. 1 and Southeast Green River Parkway.

Dellacroce, standing at the scene, said officers tried to get in the single-story home, but couldn’t because of the flames.

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He said Fire District crews extinguished the fire and found a body inside. Dellacroce said investigators are working to notify the person’s family members. The body was found in a bedroom, according to police.

Police believe only one person lives in the home.

Hours later, several Fire District and police vehicles and first responders remained at the scene.

Portions of the home’s roof appeared to have caved in after the fire.

Neighbor Donald Mello, 70, said he was woken by a firefighter who rang his doorbell.

“I didn't get to see any flames, all I seen was smoke,” Mello said. “You could hardly breathe, open the door and it just hits you right in the face.”

Mello, who said he’s lived there 18 years, said having the fire across the street was scary.

The Fire District reported the cause is under investigation.

Mello described the person who lives in the home as being in poor health.

“We only see her once in a blue moon. She's very sickly, always on oxygen,” Mello said. “She's not out very much. We actually handle her trash and stuff like that. We pull it out for her because she's just not able to do that.”

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fatal Port St. Lucie fire happened on Southeast Beechwood Terrace