Man, 64, dies in unit fire at Morphettville

Neighbours have paid tribute to the man who died after his unit went up in flames at Morphettville on Sunday evening. Picture: 7NEWS Adelaide

A man has died in a unit fire at Morphettville. Picture: Tim Hatfield/7NEWS Adelaide

Neighbours have paid tribute to their friend who has died after a Morphettville unit went up in flames on Sunday evening.

Speaking to The Advertiser, neighbours said Mark Wyman, 64, died after the fire broke out at his unit on Claines Avenue about 6pm.

Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze and stopped flames from spreading to neighbouring properties.

Jenny Rusk was asleep in her Claines Ave home when she was woken by lights and sirens.

“I saw the flames and I hoped he wasn’t home, but I found out he was,” Ms Rusk, 61, said.

She said her friend was kind and easy going.

“He was generous... and he took in everybody.”

Ms Rusk would help Mark by doing his shopping, and they shared meals together, which she said she would miss.

Another nearby resident, Kaija Blackburn, said she felt awful to hear her friend had died.

“He was a good man,” Ms Blackburn said.

“I used to go and see him and we’d talk about all sorts of things... he was very giving.”

Ms Blackburn said Mr Wyman played guitar at a local church on Sundays and was “very talented”.

Another neighbour on the street, Ieesha Ward, said she was coming home from the shops when she saw police and smoke coming from the house.

“At the start we thought no one was home... it was very said to hear someone was home,” Ms Ward, 23, said.

The uni on Claines Avenue, Morphettville. Picture: Kelly Barnes

A 64yo man has died in a unit fire at Morphettville overnight. It’s not being treated as suspicious by Police, a report will now be made for the coroner. @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/Pv99uMbGJX

— Mike Lorigan (@mikelorigan) February 14, 2021

Mr Wyman’s body was found inside. Police say the fire and death are not considered suspicious.

Southern District Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The death comes just days after another man, 72, was killed in a separate fire at Nangkita.

About 12.30am on Friday, a fire broke out at a shed on Bonds Road.

The shed was destroyed and the man’s body was found at the scene. He owned and lived at the property.