Man dies in Salmon fire
A man died in a Salmon apartment fire early Wednesday morning.
The Lemhi County Fire Protection District said firefighters arrived at 208 South Saint Charles St. around 1:45 a.m. They learned the resident, Larry Smith, 78, was in the apartment, but because the fire was so intense, firefighters couldn’t immediately get inside.
When they were able to get in the apartment, they found Smith in a bedroom directly behind the room that had the heaviest fire activity. Firefighters said it appeared the heavy smoke overwhelmed Smith, and he couldn’t get out.
The fire spread into another apartment, which was unoccupied. Crews were fighting the fire until just before noon.
State and insurance investigators determined the fire was accidental and started at a reclining chair in the living room. The cause of the chair igniting is unknown at this time, firefighters said Thursday.
