PLANTATION, Fla. – South Florida photographer, Wade Caldwell, 60, died inside his Plantation after it went up in flames Saturday night.
Fire fighters they attempted to get inside the house at Southwest 55th Terrace, but were deterred because the windows and doors were boarded up for hurricane season.
The front and back doors were also blocked, according to investigators.
West Palm Beach Fire Chief Diana Matty told 850WFTL last week about the importance of removing hurricane shutters to prevent such a catastrophe. The Atlantic Hurricane season ended Nov. 30th.
Dispatch told Plantation Fire and Rescue: “The male, he is trapped inside the residence, he is unable to get out.”
Firefighters were unable to get through the obstructions to save him.
“He kept the plywood on the windows for hurricane season. He actually said he was going to take those off soon. We’ve been here two years and he’s always been across the street anytime we needed something without even asking,” Reynolds told WPLG Channel 10 in Miami.
The car in the front yard was left charred, as was most of the home. Flowers and other mementos were seen in the driveway Sunday left by neighbors.
Caldwell, a professional photographer, was the owner of Wade Caldwell Photography.
Plantation Fire is still investigating what caused the fatal blaze.