Texas Dad Dies in Thanksgiving House Fire — Leaving Behind His Wife and 7 Kids

The fire started in the family's garage before entering their house, authorities confirmed

Copperas Cove Fire Department Facebook Copperas Cove Fire Department truck.

Copperas Cove Fire Department Facebook

Copperas Cove Fire Department truck.

A Texas father has died and leaves behind eight other family members after a house fire broke out at their residence on Thanksgiving.

George Freeman died in a fire at his family’s home in Copperas Cove during the early hours of Thursday, Nov. 28, the Copperas Cove Fire Department said in a press release shared on Facebook.

Emergency services were initially called about the blaze around 4:33 a.m. local time, per the release.

The fire department arrived to find “fire and smoke emitting from the front and garage side” of the property, as they were told that “one resident was still in the house and was unaccounted for," the release said.

“Upon entry, responding firefighters initiated a search for the resident while simultaneous work was performed to extinguish the fire in the home's garage,” the fire department wrote.

Google Maps George Freeman's house in Texas.

Google Maps

George Freeman's house in Texas.

"The home was heavily charged with smoke, which caused a complete loss of visibility. After a short search, firefighters eventually found the resident and immediately removed him from the residence," they continued.

Freeman, 61, was not breathing, nor did he have a pulse at the time he was rescued, according to the release.

Despite life-saving measures made in an attempt to revive Freeman, he died at the scene, authorities confirmed.

Freeman lived at the residence with his wife and their seven children, all of whom were able to exit the property safely. They are currently receiving aid from the American Red Cross.

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The Copperas Cove Fire Department confirmed that the fire started in the garage before entering the house.

“[The fire] directly damaged the garage, dining room, kitchen, and living room. The rest of the home sustained smoke damage,” they said, per the release.

According to the release, it took approximately 30 minutes for the fire to be contained.

An investigation is currently being conducted by the Fire Marshal.