Deadly Warehouse Fire In Pompano Beach
POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – Homicide detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office have launched an investigation into a deadly warehouse fire in Pompano Beach.
Around 4:45 a.m. a sanitation worker spotted smoke coming from the roof of the building at 650 NE 27th Street and called 9-1-1. The warehouse is used as an auto repair and sales shop.
When firefighters entered the burning structure they found the body of 53-year old Robert Posley.
Broward Sheriff's investigators said Posley was sleeping in the warehouse where he occasionally worked.
The Broward County Medical Examiner's office will determine the cause of death. However it appears that Posley may have died as a result of injuries sustained during the fire.
"It was like a dream or something when we pulled up," said Athena Wright who lives in the area. "I couldn't believe anything like that could happen to him. It was very sad."
People who work in the businesses nearby were stunned to hear that a man they see every day was inside - and did not make it out.
"He's a super nice guy, he came to visit every morning, came to see us," said John Waldo.
People who work in the area told CBS4 the man, who may have lived in one of these warehouses, was here all the time.
"It just tears your heart out," said Bradley Catri who worked with the man who died. "He was good hearted, hard-working, simple, just a kind of person you kind of would want to be around."
Sheriff's investigators said they don't know if the man had been sleeping inside the building, working on a vehicle or if there was foul play involved in his death.
"At this point in the investigation it's too soon to tell if it's a suspicious death or accidental death," said sheriff's spokeswoman Gina Carter.
