COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WTVR) - A four-year Navy veteran was killed in an early morning fire at his Colonial Heights duplex. Two Colonial Heights police officers responded to the fire at a home along the 300 block of Prince Albert Ave. about 5:40 a.m.
"Officers forced open the front door and immediately found [the victim] unresponsive," Colonial Heights Fire & EMS Lt. Joe Boisseau said. "He was pulled from the house by the officers. Emergency Medical Service arrived on scene and immediately pronounced the victim deceased."
The fire victim was identified as 67-year-old Robert Stewart Emory, Boisseau said. Investigators said a cigarette likely caused the fire.
Fatal fire in Colonial Heights (PHOTO: Wayne Covil)
"The victim’s residence suffered major damage to the front room and heat and smoke damage throughout," Boisseau said. "The investigation discovered a working smoke detector."
