LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- A man is dead after firefighters responded to a house fire in southwest Little Rock.
Around 5:30 Thursday morning firefighters rushed to the house on Verbena Drive, just off Baseline Road in southwest Little Rock.
When they arrived, Little Rock Fire Captain Jason Weaver says flames had already engulfed part of the home.
"There was heavy fire involvement in the downstairs. It was free burning, it had vented itself, heavy fire and it was moving upstairs through the back of the structure and up the stairwell."
Captain Weaver says three people were able to escape, including an 18-year old, injured when he jumped from a second floor window.
Weaver says firefighters tried, but couldn't reach another man on the second floor.
"When Engine 19 got upstairs, the atmosphere was not tentative, not supportive of life, there was no oxygen, the smoke and heat was too intense for anyone without our equipment to survive."
Captain Weaver says at that point, the rescue turned into a recovery.
It took firefighters several hours to put out the blaze.
Brigette Williams with the Arkansas Chapter of The Red Cross says she was on scene to assist the family with what they need.
"Help with food and clothing. We also bring in mental health volunteers who are professionally trained mental health workers who are obviously there for the emotional trauma that the family is going through."
Many family members gathered at a neighbor's home offering support and condolences.
Captain Weaver says fires tend to peak around this time of year.
"A lot of people using alternative methods to heat. Fireplaces are really dangerous. They need to be cleaned and maintained.
Williams says The Red Cross has also seen an increase in structure fires.
"Unfortunately, when the temperatures drop and then conversely during the holiday seasons. You see an increase in fires. The week leading up to Thanksgiving and that week of Thanksgiving we had more 100 people displaced by fire as well as four fatalities."
Fire investigators haven't yet determined a cause.
They can confirm that it started on the first level of the home.