Man’s death in central Lincoln house fire listed as accidental, LPD says

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man’s death in a central Lincoln house fire on Tuesday has been deemed accidental, police say.

In an update Thursday, police identified the victim in the house fire near 39th and J streets as 78-year-old James Ihrie.

Police said the coroner’s report listed Ihrie’s death as accidental.

Officers initially responded to the home around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday on a welfare check.

A neighbor saw that the windows were fogged over and that water was pouring from the sump pump drain outside the house.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue was called when officers smelled smoke.

Firefighters found the basement engulfed in smoke, but the fire had already gone out by the time they arrived.

Ihrie was found dead inside a basement bedroom, according to police.

The fire caused about $100,000 in damage.