A Loveland retiree and his adult son died from smoke inhalation Saturday night in a fire in a Loveland home that did not have smoke detectors, authorities said Sunday.
The Larimer County medical examiner’s office identified the victims as Donald Beland, 59, and Jason Beland, 35.
Donald Beland was a retired plumber and an Army veteran from the Vietnam War era, said his daughter, Rebecca Beland, who said her brother was a musician who had played in local bands.
“He was a wonderful, great man,” she said of her father. “He was very warm and generous, and he is really going to be missed.
“My brother was a shining, bright human being.”
Rebecca and Jason Beland, who was a 1993 graduate of Loveland High School, grew up in the home at 4103 Boxelder Drive.
Fire crews responded to the burning home at 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Division Chief Merlin Green said he could not elaborate on the cause of the fire, in the kitchen, until some information is verified.
Both died of severe smoke inhalation.
“There was no sign of foul play and both deaths were . . . accidents,” the coroner’s report said.
The Loveland Fire and Rescue Department concluded its investigation Sunday and also determined the blaze to be accidental.
“I can say that there weren’t any smoke detectors, and I certainly believe that if there had been, they would have been alerted to the smoke and heat and probably had time to get out,” Green said.
Funeral arrangements had not been finalized. Tom McGhee and Joey Bunch, The Denver Post
