Man killed in fire at Pierce County adult-family home IDed by medical examiner
The cause of fatal fire that engulfed parts of an adult-family home in the Midland area last month has been ruled as undetermined, according to the Pierce County Fire Marshal.
Fire crews were dispatched July 18 to the house with 10 people inside in the 2100 block of 90th Street East, according to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue on X.
The News Tribune reported that six people were residents, three were staff and another was a family member. They all lived in the home.
James Paulus, 76, did not make it out and died. The cause and manner of his death are listed as pending, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office in a news release. That is a temporary designation placed when additional testing/information is required.
Fire Marshal Ken Rice told The News Tribune that, when the fire was discovered, it was fairly advanced. Rice said the highest probability for the cause was potentially smoking materials, as remnants of a lighter and cigarette butts were found on the back patio.
Rice said Paulus told someone he was going out for a cigarette before the fire occurred, and he was the only person in the back patio. The patio was covered and semi-enclosed. It had a roof over it.
