MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A house fire in Lafayette County, Mississippi on Monday ended with two dead, the county’s fire department said.

Fire crews were dispatched to the fire on County Road 119 at 6:30 a.m. They found a 1,000-square-foot home on fire and were told two people might be inside.

Fire officials said when crews arrived on the scene, most of the home was already engulfed in flames.

Lashunda Turner, a nurse who lives next door, explained that she felt helpless watching the firefight unfold. She said the victims were husband and wife.

“Just sad, just remorseful,” Turner said. “Of course, I’m horrified now like what can I do? The flames were so bad we couldn’t get close to the house so that was hard not knowing, you know I’m helpless and so just being a nurse that was kinda hurtful to me.”

At one point, the fire grew so intense crews were forced to briefly evacuate as they searched for the couple. 

“They were able to retrieve the wife out but the flames were engulfing so bad they had to pull off a little bit,” Turner said.

Firefighters found one person inside the house and began life-saving measures, but the victim did not survive.

Flames drove firefighters out of the house before they could get to the second occupant. That victim was found dead after the fire was contained.

The small community is now left in shock from the loss. The couple was well known. They had lived on the country road for about 15 years. 

“We’re close around here. We do look out for each other,” Turner said.

Other neighbors like Amos Greer described the couple as kind and friendly.

“They were good people,” Greer said. “Always friendly and kind, say ‘Hey neighbor, hey neighbor!’ Just as kind hearted as she could be.”

Following the tragedy, they remind us that we should all get to know our neighbors in case of an emergency.

“Even if you don’t talk to them often, just get some information so that you can be helpful and a good resource to the medical providers, the firefighters, the officers or anybody,” Turner said.

The Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office and local investigators with the fire department and sheriff’s office are looking into the cause of the fire.

We reached out to the Lafayette County Coroner’s Office to get more information on the victims but were told the case is still under investigation.