PORT TOWNSEND — A 57-year-old man died Saturday morning in a house fire at his home at 320 Cook Avenue Extension, Art Frank, chief criminal deputy for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Saturday.
Eric Paul Hermanson appears to have died of smoke inhalation, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman Bill Beezley said.
Hermanson was in the home west of Port Townsend with his brother, Stephen, 64, who also lived there, when the fire broke out, severely damaging the one-story structure, Frank said.
Beezley said Stephen Hermanson was not injured.
Frank said an autopsy will be performed on Eric Hermanson.
“There’s no indication this was a suspicious fire,” Frank added.
The fire was reported at 8:39 a.m. and began in the basement, Beezley said.
Stephen Hermanson had gone outside to investigate the fire and saw flames shooting out of the basement windows while his brother stayed in the house, Beezley said.
An oil furnace and space heater were located in the basement, Beezley said.
Eric Hermanson was carried outside, where emergency personnel were unsuccessful in reviving him, Beezley said.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue is investigating the cause of the blaze, Frank said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
