Authorities identify man killed in Isanti house fire

Lawrence Tuma died of smoke inhalation resulting from a "flash fire."

May 22, 2019 at 2:06AM

A man killed in a house fire Saturday in Isanti has been identified as Lawrence Tuma.

Deputies went to a home on the 5600 block of NE. 263rd Avenue about 6:18 p.m. on a report of an unresponsive man inside a residence. They found there had been a fire in the home and Tuma was dead, according to the Isanti County Sheriff's Office.

Tuma died from smoke inhalation, the Sheriff's Office said.

Preliminary information indicates that Tuma attempted to light a cigarette while oxygen was being used in the home, and that sparked a "flash fire," the Sheriff's Office said.

The fire remains under investigation.

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about the writer

Tim Harlow

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Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.

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