Cause of death in fire still undetermined
Columbia fire investigators still have no cause of death in the fire that killed a man Jan. 20.
After completing their investigation, investigators officially listed the cause of death as undetermined, stated a news release from the Columbia Fire Department.
While the cause of death is still undetermined, officials gave two possible causes for the fire. The fire could have been caused by discarded smoking materials or by electrical malfunctions, the news release stated.
The department said determining a cause of death was also made difficult because the shed where the body was found was completely destroyed in the fire.
The fire and police departments are waiting for toxicology reports to determine the exact cause of death and to positively identify the body.