Man Killed in Fire at Deerfield Beach Marina

Authorities investigating deadly trailer fire

Authorities are investigating after a man was killed when his trailer went up in flames at a Deerfield Beach marina Wednesday night.

The Broward Sheriff's Office identified the victim as 62-year-old Francis Anthony DeCotis, who witnesses said is the caretaker of the marina.

The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. at the Freedom Marina at 790 Northwest 1st Terrace, BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.

Witnesses said the blaze was quickly out of control.

"What I saw when I walked up was the flames shooting out of the building in the back and a lot of smoke," Jeremiah Giles said.

Moschella said firefighters put out the fire in a matter of minutes but when they searched inside the trailer, they found the man's body.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by BSO Fire Rescue and the state fire marshal while BSO detectives are investigating the man's death, Moschella said.

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Moschella said the medical examiner will determine the cause of death but it doesn't appear to be foul play.

"Detectives have said it does not appear to be suspicious at this point," Moshella said.

Deerfield Beach Mayor Peggy Noland said the fire could have been worse had firefighters not worked quickly to keep it from spreading.

"It's a tragedy, it's a sad tragedy that this happened but you know I guess it could have been a lot worse, it could have been the whole building that went up but luckily it was just contained to the trailer," Noland said.

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