TEMPLE (August 17, 2010)—Temple fire investigators Tuesday identified the man whose body was found inside a burning residence Monday evening as Fred Holiday, 80.

Temple firefighters found Holiday’s body just after 6 p.m. Monday inside the house at 812 East Avenue E after neighbors told them they feared he was still inside.

A neighbor who discovered the fire had attempted to enter the house before firefighters arrived, but was forced back by smoke and heat, fire officials said Tuesday.

Bell County Justice of the Peace Don Engleking pronounced Holiday dead at the scene and ordered an autopsy.

Flames and smoke were coming from the rear of the wood frame house when the first crews arrived, and investigators said Tuesday the fire started in the kitchen, likely by food left unattended on the stove.

Holiday’s body was found in another part of the house close to the kitchen, investigators said.

The house, which was heavily damaged by fire, did not have smoke alarms, fire officials said.