JANESVILLE — The cause of the Locust Street house fire that left one person dead was ruled “undetermined†due to having more than one ignition source, Janesville Fire Marshall Nate Simmons said.
In May, a fire broke out at 402 S. Locust St. in a two-story home that is split into two apartments.
The fire department said in an update that it rescued the man from a second story window using a ladder.
Medics transported the man to Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center, Janesville. Authorities say Eugene Stewart, 69, of Janesville later died after sustaining severe injuries from the fire.
Simmons said that they ruled the fire’s cause to be undetermined because there were several ignition sources that they couldn’t narrow down to the true source of the conflagration.
Investigators initially thought the fire started outside south wall at 402 S. Locust St. They believe flames spread inside, causing major damage to both floors and also damaging exterior stairs that serve the upper floor.
Inspectors thought that when the outside steps collapsed, they fell and landed on a natural gas meter, breaking open a gas pipe.
The busted pipe then shot flames like a blowtorch, the fire department said, which spread the fire to a house next door at 406 S. Locust St.
Simmons said that now the case will be sent to agencies that insured the property, and they will have their own private fire investigator try to determine a cause to help with the damage assessment.