Foul play not suspected in Southwest Alaska fire at home where human remains found, troopers say

Update, July 29: Alaska State Troopers say foul play is not suspected in a fire that consumed a house in Aniak where human remains were found. A preliminary investigation by a deputy fire marshal determined the fire originated near the remains, troopers said in an update Monday. The fire’s cause remains under investigation, they said.

Original story:

Alaska State Troopers who were called to the village of Aniak on Thursday for reports of gunfire found a home engulfed by flames and later found human remains inside, they said.

Several people in the village had reported hearing random gunshots, although there were no reports of threats or anyone being shot at, said troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel. Aniak-based troopers and wildlife troopers were patrolling the village near the slough around 11:30 a.m. to try to find the source of the sporadic gunfire when they saw a house fully engulfed by flames, McDaniel said.

They worked with community members to suppress the fire, and later the remains of the homeowner were found inside, troopers said.

During the investigation, troopers identified the homeowner as the person suspected to be firing a gun, McDaniel said. The remains will be sent to the State Medical Examiner Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, McDaniel said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the cause and origin of the fire.

Aniak is situated along the Kuskokwim River roughly 90 air miles northeast of Bethel.