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BERTHOUD, Colo.—Investigators say a fire that broke out in a downtown Berthoud apartment appears to have been sparked by discarded smoking materials.
The blaze in the 600 block of Mountain Avenue started at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Authorities say evidence indicates that 49-year-old James Hastings tried to fight the fire himself with a home fire extinguisher.
He was pronounced dead about a half-hour later. Larimer County coroner’s officials say Hastings’ death was accidental, but the cause was withheld pending additional toxicology tests.
Fire damage was contained to Hastings’ apartment.
