TEMPLE (February 24, 2010)--One man was taken to Scott & White Hospital Wednesday morning after he suffered smoke inhalation in a fire that gutted in this house he was renting.

Temple firefighters were sent to 1207 S. 10th St at about 7 a.m. and first arriving units reported heavy smoke coming from the single-story frame house.

Firefighters said the man awoke to discovery that his mattress was on fire and called 911.

The 42-year-old man was standing across the street from his burning house when firefighters arrived.

A News 10 reporter said the inside of the home is gutted and smoke marks are visible on outside walls.

The fire was ignited by a space heater that was placed too close to combustible items, investigators said.

The rental house didn’t have working smoke detectors, fire officials said.