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Mooresville man dies in garage fire
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Published: June 16, 2009
A Mooresville man died late Sunday night after a fire broke out in his garage on Rinehardt Road, authorities said.
Harry Michael Rice, 61, of 285 Rinehardt Road died at the scene. Rinehardt Road is located off N.C. Highway 115 just north of Mooresville.
Firefighters were called to the Rinehardt Road garage shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday and found flames coming from the roof of the detached garage.
Iredell County Deputy Fire Marshal Ronny Thompson said the exact cause of the fire hasn't been determined.
However, he said, Rice told family members he was going into the garage to work on a motorcycle that had a fuel leak.
Rice purchased gas earlier in the day to use to work on the motorcycle.
At some point, Thompson said, Rice was caught in a flash fire that ignited the garage.
Witnesses told the Iredell County Sheriff's Office that they heard two loud noises and noticed the fire, said Capt. Darren Campbell.
Thompson said there was paint and paint thinner in the garage, and Rice was known to burn candles or incense when he worked in the garage.
There was also some ammunition in the garage, and on Monday, an explosive ordinance disposal unit from Cabarrus County was called after a Vietnam-era grenade was found, reports indicate.
Thompson, along with investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation and the sheriff's office, combed through the remnants of the garage looking for clues.
Exactly what sparked the flash fire is likely to remain a mystery, Thompson said.
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