JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department found a victim of a fire that happened the previous day, who firefighters at the scene had not noticed, according to JFRD Captain Eric Prosswimmer.

JFRD was dispatched to a bush fire at 8225 New Kings Road at 10:13 p.m. Tuesday, but they surveyed the area and found nothing, according to Prosswimmer.

“About five minutes later,” crews were dispatched again to 8225 Moncrief Dinsmore Road, about one minute away, where they found what they thought was a fire resulting from burning trash. 

The fire was covering an approximately 40 by 40-foot area, which “had fire that looked like trash,” and “a bunch of beer cans and an old, dilapidated box truck.” 

When crews arrived, “They quickly went to work, got some water, extinguished the trash fire, cleared the call and went on,” Prosswimmer said.

However, on Wednesday, when JFRD was investigating the site of the fire, they found a body in the box truck. They have now declared the fire fatal and the body a victim of the fire.

Prosswimmer said the victim had severe burns. 

“Our crews didn’t see any signs of a body, which was found, so, therefore, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Homicide has been out, done their investigation, and also, the Bureau of Fire Arson Investigations has been out and done their investigation,” Prosswimmer said.

He did not know who the victim was, but could confirm it was a man in his 70s.

“We had no indication that anybody lived here, but we were told later that somebody actually lived in this vehicle for a number of years,” he said.