For the second time in seven days, fire has killed a Mason City resident. A Mason City man who was recognized for riding his bicycle around town and picking up cans and bottles died in a house fire Monday morning.
Firefighters were called to the home of 52-year-old Cleo Willis shortly after 7:30 AM. Willis was taken to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa by ambulance, where a hospital spokeswoman says he died. A cause of death has not been released, and fire officials say the blaze remains under investigation.
Willis had been involved in at least two other high-profile house fires in the last four years, the last one being three years ago to the day when his house in northeastern Mason City sustained substantial damage. In that fire, two 12-year-old boys were charged with reckless use of fire.
Last week, a Mason City woman died from burns sustained after her clothing caught fire while cooking.