The Roanoke Rapids Fire Department this morning identified the victim of a morning house fire as John Babb.

Fire Chief Stacy Coggins said it appeared Babb, 59, made it midway to the stairwell of his one and a half story house before he died.

Coggins said the fire call came in shortly after 12:30 a.m. and it appeared to be called in by a neighbor.

It is impossible to know just how long the fire was burning before the call came in but Coggins said it appeared to have started quite a while before it was noticed.

Firefighters found Babb’s body nine minutes after arriving at the scene at 424 Jefferson Street.

Clutter behind the door impeded initial entry, Coggins said, and firefighters had to pry and push the door open. The door led to the stairwell where Babb was found.

Battalion Chief Richard Cook told rrspin.com earlier this morning it appeared he might have been sleeping and was awakened by the fire and tried to escape.

Firefighters were dispatched shortly after 12:30 this morning. Upon arriving the brick house was about 40 percent engulfed with flames coming out vents, a side door and two windows. It had made its way to the roof.

Cook said it was believed the front door was not in use because items were placed against it.

Firefighters got the blaze under control in about an hour and 25 minutes and remained on the scene for much of the morning. It is believed an electrical malfunction in a wall socket may have caused the fire.