Business owner killed in fire in southeast Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Heavy plumes of smoke rolled into the sky above a local plumbing business on Tuesday morning during a massive fire that took the life of the shop's elderly owner.

Frederick Byrd, 83, was living his dream of owning his own business, Byrd Plumbing Supplies & Services. Sadly, he died doing what he loved.

"It's going to be hard. It's going to be really hard. He's going to be missed," his son, Freddie Byrd said. Freddie Byrd rushed to the shop, hoping it wasn't his father's business that was burning. Frederick Byrd was rescued from inside but later passed away. His shop was a fixture on Cullen and he was a familiar face in the community.

"Everybody on this side of town knew him because he was always willing to help people out. He's always been there for those that didn't have nothing, he'd give them a second chance if they didn't have a first chance," Freddie Byrd said.

A self-made man who started from nothing and worked his way up, supporting a loving family along the way, his son says he'll always be remembered for how he lived, not how he died.

"The one thing I can say, he had a good life. He had a good life," Freddie Byrd said.

Investigators believe the victim may have gone back inside the building after the fire had already started. Electricians were working in the office area the day before and that is the same area where the fire is believed to have started, according to investigators at the scene.