Police Say Resident Started Fire, Then Took His Own Life

Yakima police say a man found dead inside a burned-out home on North 36th Avenue early Thursday started the fire himself and then took his own life.

Spokesman Mike Bastinelli says officers were the first to arrive and break into the man's home, where they found him dead in a chair. The officers, however, were not able to take the man's body out of the home because of the smoke and flames. The fire destroyed the house in the 200 block of North 36th Avenue along with a detached garage.

The victim has not been identified. The fire was discovered at about 3 a.m. Thursday. An investigation continues today.