Fatal College Place house fire ruled accidental, smoke inhalation killed victim

COLLEGE PLACE – A fatal house fire that killed a 71-year-old man last week has been ruled accidental, though the specific cause remains unknown, fire officials said.

The College Place Fire Department announced that the Jan. 14 blaze on the 600 block of Southwest First Street destroyed the single-story home. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 1:27 a.m.

Authorities identified the victim as Jesse Briones. College Place Fire Marshal John Boose told Elkhorn Media Group that Briones died of smoke inhalation.

While a fire investigator determined the blaze was an accident, the exact point of ignition could not be identified.

Photo via Dan Thesman

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Elkhorn Media Group