One dead in Olive Branch house fire

• Fatal structure fire: A pre-dawn blaze on Piney Ridge Drive claimed one life early Tuesday morning.
• Emergency response: Olive Branch police and fire units arrived at approximately 3:00 a.m. to find the rear of the residence fully engulfed.
• Ongoing investigation: Authorities have released the victim’s name at Michael Groscost, age 57.

OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — Authorities are investigating a Tuesday morning house fire that claimed the life of one person in an Olive Branch neighborhood.

Officers with the Olive Branch Police Department responded to a report of a structure fire in the 9800 block of Piney Ridge Drive at approximately 3 a.m. on Feb. 3. Upon arrival, first responders reported that the rear of the residence was already fully engulfed in flames.

As fire crews worked to suppress the heavy blaze, they discovered an individual inside the home near the back door. According to officials, the individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

12 p.m. UPDATE: The identity of the victim has now been released as Michael Groscost, age 57.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Investigators from the Olive Branch Fire Department and the Olive Branch Police Department are treating the incident as an active and ongoing investigation.

“Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” the department stated in an official release.

The scene remained active for several hours Tuesday as fire marshals conducted a sweep of the property. Preliminary assessments indicate that the damage to the rear of the structure was near one hundred percent, though crews were able to prevent the flames from spreading to neighboring homes.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Olive Branch Police Department.

Friday update

Groscost, 57, was found by firefighters near the back door of his residence at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Feb. 3. While the Olive Branch Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office have confirmed the fire resulted in a fatality, the specific cause of the blaze remains under active investigation.

Groscost, a Michigan native who relocated to North Mississippi, was well-known in the community as a talented technician with a specialty in boat repair. Beyond his professional skills, family and friends remember him as an avid fisherman and a dedicated member of Alcoholics Anonymous, where he was noted for his commitment to supporting others in their recovery journeys.

A celebration of life for Groscost is expected to be scheduled at a later date. In the meantime, the Olive Branch Police Department continues to seek any information from the public that might assist in closing the case.

“He took pride in taking care of his home and inherited a love of cooking from his mother,” his family shared in a tribute.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have stated that more information will be released as forensic reports are finalized.