A late-night car fire in a Forest Lake driveway ended in tragedy Saturday, when firefighters found a deceased person inside the burning vehicle, officials said.
Crews arrived to find the car fully engulfed in flames in a residential driveway and were able to put out the fire, but the person inside could not be saved. The body was taken to the county medical examiner, and investigators have launched an inquiry into how the fire started.
According to CBS Minnesota, firefighters were called at about 11:38 p.m. to a driveway near Northwest Fifth Street and Northwest First Avenue, where they found the vehicle already "fully involved" and later located one occupant inside. As reported by Pioneer Press, the scene was in the 100 block of 5th Street NW, and fire departments from Hugo and Wyoming assisted Forest Lake crews at the scene.
Investigation Under Way
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is leading the cause-and-origin investigation, according to local reports. The agency investigates how and where fires start and coordinates with local departments in fatal fire cases, per the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
What Officials Are Releasing
Authorities have not released the victim's name while they work to notify family members, and the body has been sent to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office for examination, Pioneer Press reported. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office determines the cause and manner of death, performs autopsies and toxicology testing when needed, and releases identifying information after next-of-kin have been notified.
The Forest Lake Fire Department has extended its deepest condolences to the victim's family. The investigation remains active, and officials are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact local law enforcement or the State Fire Marshal, according to CBS Minnesota. This story will be updated as authorities release more details.
