The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the victim of a Feb. 3 fatal house fire in Northeast Hazel Dell.
Patrick J. Prudhomme’s death was caused by “thermal injury and inhalation of products of combustion.” The medical examiner listed the 75-year-old man’s manner of death as an accident.
Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Jason Knoble previously told The Columbian that the fire was likely caused by the resident falling asleep while smoking.
Firefighters were dispatched at 3:58 a.m. to the 7900 block of Northeast 30th Avenue. The home is near the boundary of the Vancouver Fire Department’s service area, and a Clark County Fire District 6 engine was the first to arrive at the scene, Vancouver Fire Department spokesman Joe Spatz said. The crew spotted smoke billowing from the front of a manufactured home, he said.
Additional firefighters arrived and initiated a search of the home. There had been fire burning, but by the time of the search, it was only smoldering in a few places. Prudhomme was reportedly discovered inside the home.
