Man, 54, killed in east side house fire

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A 54-year-old special needs man died in a house fire on the east side Tuesday night.

IFD was called to the 2300 block of North Dearborn Street around 8:30 p.m.

Firefighters said Norville Denning died after a fire started in his room at the back of the house. Denning -- who lived in the home with his parents -- may have accidentally started the fire while smoking in his room.

Denning's parents told firefighters they heard him call for help but when they tried to get into his room, the door was blocked. Firefighters aren’t sure what was blocking the door, but they said there was a lot of debris in the room.

Firefighters said when they arrived at the home, the smoke coming from the house blanketed more than three blocks.

It took firefighters more than 20 minutes to get the flames under control.

Family members could only stand on the street and watch in horror as the house burned with Denning trapped inside.

“They were talking to Denning and he kept saying his bed was on fire,” said Capt. Rita Reith, IFD. “The father said he tried to kick the door but something was blocking it. Eventually, the smoke was too thick, so his parents had to leave because they couldn’t breathe. So they did have to leave their son in there.”

Firefighters had to bust down the bedroom door to get to the fire. When they did, flames shot out in what’s called a flash fire. That forced them to temporarily pull back, before fully putting the fire out.

Denning’s parents were able to make it out of the house uninjured.