A Waycross man died in a house fire on Florida Avenue early Sunday, March 19, Waycross Fire Chief David Eddins said Monday morning. J.B. Merritt, 69, perished in the blaze, Eddins said. City fire department units were dispatched at 1:23 a.m. Sunday to a structure fire at 1601 Florida Avenue, Eddins said. Firefighters found the single-story house fully involved upon arrival, he said. “They were told there were possibly two occupants still in the house,” Eddins said. He said shortly thereafter personnel learned only one occupant was unaccounted for. “Once conditions permitted, crews were able to make entry into the structure,” Eddins said. Once inside, firefighters found Merritt deceased, the chief said. Eddins said the State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called to investigate the blaze. He said initial indications point to the kitchen as the origin of the fire. The property has been deemed a total loss, Eddins said. Also Sunday, units of the Ware County Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the area of Guilford Road and Golfview Drive, the department said on its Facebook page. Crews from two county stations (Nos 1. and 3) and two volunteer stations (Nos. 4 and 9) answered the call at 4:48 p.m. The post said firefighters were able to attack the fire from outside and inside the structure to mitigate the blaze spread to only a hallway and a laundry room. A search of the property located the owner’s pet cat unharmed. There were no injuries reported, the post said.
