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PROVO -- A hot object discarded into a laundry basket caused a fire that left one man dead. The fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the apartments near 500 North and 100 West in Provo.
A resident in a second-floor unit called 911 after noticing smoke coming from the light fixture.
The fire was coming from a third-floor unit. Firefighters went into the apartment and found the 38-year-old man dead inside. His name is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin.
Battalion Chief Lynn Schofield investigators believe the fire was started by an object in the laundry basket, possibly a match or cigarette. Schofield said there was nothing suspicious about the fire and it has been ruled unintentional.
Schofield said fire alarms were not functioning during the fire. He said if the alarm had been working, it probably would have saved the man's life.
Half the complex was evacuated while firefighters put out the flames. People were allowed to return to their apartments a short time later. The only person not allowed back home was the person who placed the call to 911.
