A man died in a house fire Friday morning. Five other people were able to get out of what authorities are calling a boarding house.
Atlanta Fire Battalion Chief Derek Harris said there was very little fire but heavy smoke when units arrived to the home on Neal St. at Lindsay St.. He said the fire was contained to one room of the six room home.
Six adults and five kids lived in the home.
Firefighters said the man who died appeared to be in his 50s. Neighbors identified him as Mr. Melvin.
Photos | Fatal house fire in Atlanta
The residents said they asked the owner of the home to install smoke detectors but it never happened.
"In that house, there are no smoke detectors or nothing. We've been asking the landlord for smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, put the house up to code and he won't do it," Laquanta Johnson said.
She lived in the house and said everyone is now homeless. She said the Red Cross came by and gave them resources to find somewhere to stay.
One man who got out and saved others said he couldn't get to the victim to save him.
Gary Barber said he woke up to go to the restroom, smelled smoke and started waking up the other people who lived in the house.
"I heard him in there hollering 'help help'," Barber said.
Photos | Fatal Atlanta house fire
"I kicked the door in...When the door flew open, smoke came out, I ducked, I couldn't even go in there...because the black smoke it was too dangerous," he added.
Barber said the smoke was so thick he couldn't see in the room.
"I just heard him say 'help,help, somebody help me.'"
David Lewis also lived in the home and said Barber saved them.
"Gary was our hero he helped me get down the steps and woke us up when the house was on fire. He saved all of us," Lewis said.
The Atlanta Fire officials said they do not regulate businesses and cannot force homes to have smoke detectors.
